Protect infection prevention – Participate in the consultation process for the reclassification of ethanol!
Ethanol has been an essential ingredient in alcoholic hand disinfectants for decades and contributes significantly to the prevention of hospital-acquired infections. In Germany, around 600,000 nosocomial infections occur each year, resulting in 15,000 to 18,000 deaths [1]. Ethanol-based disinfectants have been shown to reduce these infection rates, thus protecting patients and medical staff [2].
Various professional associations are clearly opposed to the reclassification. Organizations such as the German Society for General and Hospital Hygiene (DGKH), the German Hospital Federation (DKG)and the Federal Union of German Associations of Pharmacists (ABDA) emphasize that ethanol does not pose a relevant health risk when used properly.
The position of major health organizations on the subject of ethanol can be found here:
The EU consultation process will start in March/April 2025. This is where political representatives and interest groups have the opportunity to submit a statement. It is crucial that as many stakeholders in the healthcare sector as possible advocate for the preservation of ethanol as an indispensable component of infection prevention.
Take a stand for infection prevention now!
Find out more about the consultation process and submit a statement. Together, we can ensure that scientific evidence is taken into account and that patients and healthcare workers remain protected.
Further information and the opportunity to participate can be found here:
When ethanol is taken orally, the alcohol enters the bloodstream directly, is broken down in the liver and can be harmful to health. In contrast, ethanol is only absorbed through the skin in infinitesimally small quantities when used dermally – for example, through hand sanitizer [3, 4]. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) compares the exposure to disinfectants with the ethanol content in apple juice: even with frequent use of alcoholic hand sanitizers, the systemic exposure is lower than with regular drinking of apple juice [5].
Even inhalation of disinfectant vapors only leads to minimal ethanol concentrations in the blood, which are well below critical levels [3, 4].
Conclusion: the assessment of the health risks of ethanol must take into account the different routes of exposure. While oral intake can pose health risks, external application does not pose a relevant risk when used properly.
[1] Gastmeier P, Geffers C. [Nosocomial infections in Germany. What are the numbers, based on the estimates for 2006?]. Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 2008;133(21):1111-5. https://doi. org/10.1055/s-2008-1077224 PMID: 18478503.
[2] WHO (2009) WHO Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care.
[3] Ahmed-Lecheheb D, et al. Dermal and pulmonary absorption of ethanol from alcohol-based hand rub. J Hosp Infect, 2012. 81: 31-35.
[4] Below H, et al. Dermal and pulmonary absorption of propan-1-ol and propan-2-ol from hand rubs. Am J Infect Control, 2012. 40: 250-257.
[5] Epid. Bulettin 2. Mai 2016/Nr. 17 DOI 10.17886/EpiBull-2016-029
