History

Many studies have shown that understaffing and increased workload is risk factor for health care-associated epidemics and the goal of hand hygiene is to obtain sufficient reduction of microbial counts on the skin to prevent cross-transmission of pathogens among patients. There are also studies showing herbal hand sanitizers having significant bacteriostatic effect on hands.

The study will be undertaken to assess the antibacterial efficacy of lemon juice and three different natural oils.

Materials and Method: Three groups consisting of health workers (group I, group II, group III and Group IV) were included in the study. Sterile cotton swab sticks were used to take swabs from both hands and swabs were inoculated on the part of the agar plates marked pre application on to Cystein lactose electrolyte deficient agar plates. Lemon juice and natural oils

(Eucalyptus, Tea tree oil and Lemon grass) was asked to rub the thoroughly on the palms. Later after 1 min, swabs were collected again from the palms and inoculation was done on the respective agar plates, in the part marked post. This procedure was repeated for six consecutive days.

Results: Lemon juice was slightly better than lemon grass oil, tea tree oil and  eucalyptus oil in eradicating microbes from the hands of health care workers and also lemon grass oil showed better antibacterial efficacy than eucalyptus oil and teatree oil. Conclusion: The household herbal oils and fresh extracts can be used in preventing spreading of infections, namely by its use as an antiseptic for topical and for hand cleaning