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CAUTION:
If you use PURELL or any other Gel Sanitizer
You Should Read the Information Below!
See Special Offer at bottom of Page

Frequently Asked
Questions about Purell®
From Pfizers Own Website - www.pfizerch.com
Purell®
Answers |
REBUTTAL |
Microsan
Answers |
How does Purell® work?
The
Purell® product is a refreshing instant hand sanitizer
that kills 99.99% of most common germs that may cause
disease. |
|
Alcohol
is the only part of the alcohol based products that
is active. It is only active for less than 10 seconds.
|
Microsanrx
contains a high technology, patent pending, formulation
that uses three USP grade ingredients (anti-microbial
agent, surfactant, alcohol 14%) and pH to effectively
denature microbial proteins and denature metabolic pathway
enzymes. |
How do I use Purell® products?
| Thoroughly
wet hands with product. Rub hands together briskly until
dry. No rinsing required. No towels needed. |
| The
recommendation of the CDC is that recurrent use of alcohol
based gel hand sanitizers is not recommended without
adequate hand washing in between uses. The reason for
this is that gels leave a biofilm on skin surfaces treated
that traps dirt and potentially pathogenic organisms.
Effectiveness
decreases with added use and alcohol based products
are infeffective with the third use. |
|
Microsanrx
not only kills over 100 tested
bacteria, viruses, yeast and mold but also effectively
removes dirt from your hands without leaving a biofilm.
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How can I tell that the Purell®
instant hand sanitizer is working?
| Purell®
Instant Hand Sanitizer works as the alcohol evaporates |
| The
evaporation time for applied Purell® is
less than 10 seconds with a nickel size dose. This
dwell time is inadequate for proper antimicrobial
action. |
|
Microsanrx
leaves a layer of germ killing ingredients that continues
to kill for 4 hours. This is truly a glove of protection.
|

Is Purell® a soap?
|
No.
Purell® is an Instant Hand Sanitizer designed to
kill germs on the hands when soap and water are unavailable.
Purell® Instant Hand Sanitizer can also be used
after hand washing to kill germs that may remain after
soap-and-water hand washing. |
| Most
protocols for hand hygiene require that you do not rely
on alcohol based gel hand sanitizers like Purell®
for repeated use without hand washing. Purell®
will not work in the presence of organic soil and it
does not contain surfactant to remove the soil so the
alcohol will work. |
|
Microsanrx
contains a surfactant/alcohol/pH system that enhances
the antimicrobial agent in the system for a rapid, effective
kill. |
How does Purell® instant hand
sanitizer compare to antibacterial soap?
| Purell®
is not soap. Alcohol is more efficacious and faster
acting against bacteria than Triclosan or Chloroxylenol,
other leading antimicrobial active ingredients. Soaps
require rinsing and drying. Purell® Instant Hand
Sanitizer evaporates rapidly, without the need for water
or towels. |
| CDC
and FDA and anyone in the know states that hand washing
with antimicrobials soaps is preferable to alcohol based
hand sanitizers. There is very little data published
to support the Purell® statement alcohol
in a gel system works well. |
|
Microsanrx
contains a surfactant system that breaks down the dirt
on your hands to allow the active ingredients kill.
This system is comparable to hand washing without water. |
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How long after I use the Purell® instant hand sanitizer does it kill germs?
|
Purell® products
have no residual germ-killing effect. Purell®
products kill germs on contact, but once it has evaporated,
the germ-killing action has stopped.
|
| The
wet dwell time for Purell is less than 10 seconds
and it is doubtful that Purell kills on contact. This
time is inadequate to kill many pathogenic bacterial,
enveloped and non enveloped viruses.
|
|
The
Microsanrx
System leaves a deposition of germ killing ingredients
that continue to prevent the recolonization of microorganisms
for 4 hours. Alcohol does not have this residual protection. |
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How can Purell® instant hand sanitizer help to
protect you?
| Since
over 80% of all infectious illnesses are spread by the
hands, effective hand hygiene with products like Purell®
Instant Hand Sanitizer can prevent illness. (Purell®
kills 99.99% of most common germs that may cause illness).
Hand hygiene is recognized by the Center for Disease
Control (CDC) as the single most important means of
preventing the spread of infection. Effective hand hygiene
kills germs that are easily spread by hands.
|
| No
clinical studies could be found in any of the medical
data bases (Medline or Pubmed) that show that less than
10 seconds is an adequate dwell time for alcohol based
gel products like Purell. If you use the ASTM test standard
with pathogenic organisms you will find that it is not.
Pfizer does not publish Purell's efficacy list of product
sensitive organisms. It relies on historical data for
pure ethanol products without a gel base. |
|
Microsanrx
has been clinically proven to kill over 100 different
species of bacteria, virus, yeast and mold including
antibiotic resistant bacteria. |
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How often should I use Purell® instant hand sanitizer?
| Purell®
products are formulated with moisturizers so that you
can use them as often as you like. You may use Purell®
Instant Hand Sanitizer before eating meals on the run,
after sneezing, before and after changing a baby's diaper,
after grocery shopping, after taking public transportation,
or anytime. Purell® products make good hand hygiene
easy, and that helps you stay well. |
| Since
Purell® and other alcohol gel products have no residual
germ killing protection, you will pick up potentially
pathogenic organisms as soon as the alcohol dries. For
some protection, alcohol based hand sanitizer need to
be used every 5 minutes when in a dirty environment.
Remember, studies have shown that with the third use
alcohol gel based products without a hand wash with
soap and water is ineffective in killing re-colonized
germs. Soil also inactivates the effects of alcohol. |
| Since
Microsanrx
cleans as it sanitizes, there is no inactivation by
organic soil so you can use it as often as you would
like. |
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Can Purell® instant hand sanitizer be used between
handwashing?
|
Yes. Purell® is a sanitizer,
not a cleaner; meaning that it will kill germs, but
will not remove dirt, grease, or grime off hands. |
| With
the third use, alcohol gel products become inefficient
and your hands need to be washed. |
|
Microsanrx
Can be used as often as necessary. It leaves no biofilms,
continuously cleans and leaves a deposition of germ
killing ingredients that continue for 4 hours. Use every
four hours will protect you all day. Heavy contamination
requires more frequent application.
Microsanrx
can be used to remove dirt and grease by using an excess
application and drying with a cloth or napkin. No other
product makes this claim. |
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What germs does Purell® instant hand sanitizer
kill? what is it not effective against?
|
Purell® Instant Hand
Sanitizer is effective against a wide variety of organisms
including E. coli, Staphylococcus sp., Streptococcus
sp., Salmonella sp. at > 99.99%.
|
| To
meet the FDA OTC drug monograph for hand sanitizers,
you must be able to kill the above organisms. Alcohol
based product studies done to meet this requirement
were done with alcohol, without the gel base and without
the presence of organic soil. |
|
Microsanrx
Foaming Hand Sanitizer was tested using the complete
product against a variety of multi-antibiotic resistant
bacteria, viruses, yeast and mold using actual clinical
isolates when possible. Also tested in the presence
of 5% bovine serum albumin. |
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Does Purell® instant hand sanitizer kill the
good and bad germs?
|
Yes, however, because
Purell® Instant Hand Sanitizer has no residual
antimicrobial activity, the natural flora left in
the skin will resurface and repopulate quickly. Purell®
Instant Hand Sanitizer does eliminate some good germs
while it gets rid of bad germs. So does washing with
soap and water.
|
| We
really don't know what Purell® kills. They always
talk in general terms. |
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Does Purell® instant hand sanitizer contribute
to antimicrobial resistance?
|
No, because alcohol evaporates
completely, there is no alcohol left behind to promote
adaptation. Alcohol has been used in health care for
many years with minimal adverse effects. |
|
Microsanrx
does not contribute to microbial resistance because
of its quick mode of action. If organisms can not reproduce,
they can't develop resistance genes. We know of no organisms
that have developed resistance to the
Microsanrx
Foaming Hand Sanitizer System. |
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How does alcohol work?
|
Alcohol works by denaturing
proteins.
|
| Purell®
will not work in the presence of organic soil (dirt
or grease). This is why they tell you to wash your hands
often. |
|
Microsanrx
was developed to solvate soil and grease so the Quad
Technology system will kill quickly and effectively. |
Are there any "side effects" to using
Purell® products?
|
No side effects as a
result of using Purell® Instant Hand Sanitizer
have been reported. As with all drugs, you should
use Purell® Instant Hand Sanitizer only as directed.
|
| Should
be kept away from children, smokers and those with alcohol
dependence. The denatured alcohol is a poison and is
flammable. |
Are Purell® products safe for children?
|
All Purell® formulas
are classified as Over The Counter (OTC) drugs and,
therefore, are subject to labeling requirements of
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These requirements
include putting "Keep out of the reach of children"
on the package. This warning helps ensure that parents
explain to children how to use the product properly.
This labeling is an FDA requirement for all OTC drugs.
It is a precaution found on many products. It does
not mean "do not use on children," but is
a precaution so that children do not mishandle the
product.
|
|
Should
be kept away from children, smokers and those with alcohol
dependence. The denatured alcohol is a poison and is
flammable. |
|
Microsanrx
is safe for children over 6 months of age. |
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Why do the instructions on the Purell® label
say "keep out of reach of children"?
|
All Purell® formulas
are classified as Over The Counter (OTC) drugs and,
therefore, are subject to labeling requirements of
the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These requirements
include putting "Keep out of the reach of children"
on the package. This warning helps ensure that parents
explain to children how to use the product properly.
This labeling is an FDA requirement for all OTC drugs.
It is a precaution found on many products. It does
not mean "do not use on children," but is
a precaution so that children do not mishandle the
product.
|
Although
Purell® can be used on children, Purell® is
flammable and caution should be used around children.
|
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How many times can Purell® instant hand sanitizer
be used before washing hands?
|
Purell® products
can be used to disinfect hands whenever they are not
visibly soiled and can be used repeatedly. There is
no need to wash hands between uses, unless they become
visibly soiled or come
in contact with bloodborne pathogens or body fluids. |
| Alcohol
based hand sanitizers do no work in the presence of
organic soil. Any small amount of organic soil renders
the alcohol ineffective. |
|
Microsanrx
has been tested in the presence of 5% bovine serum
albumin to simulate bloodborne contamination.
Microsanrx
kills in the presence of organic soil. |
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Does Purell® instant hand sanitizer leave a
residue?
|
No, Purell® Instant
Hand Sanitizer leaves no harmful residue. Hands are
left feeling soft and refreshed. a small bit of emollient
(skin conditioning agent) is left on the hands after
use.
|
| Purell®'s
emollient and gel ingredients leave a dirt and microorganism
attracting biofilm residue. This biofilm inhibits the
ability of alcohol to denature proteins with repeated
use. |
|
Microsanrx
uses patent pending Quad Technology that
not only disinfects but cleans dirt and grease at the
same time. |
Is there a problem with Purell® instant hand
sanitizer staining floors?
|
Because alcohol is a
solvent (Purell® Instant Hand Sanitizer contains
62% Ethyl Alcohol), it can dissolve floor wax and
leave a dull or discolored spot if dripped on the
floor. In certain situations, product may be "splashed"
onto the floor from the user's hands as it is being
rubbed in.
|
| If
Purell® can dissolve commercial floor wax, imagine
what it will do to the lipids in your skin cells. |
|
Microsanrx
contains no ingredients that will effect floor finishes
or your hands. |
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Is Purell® instant hand sanitizer flammable?
|
Purell® Instant Hand
Sanitizer is flammable but requires a flame, spark,
or other ignition source. Purell® products are
safe when used, handled, and stored as directed.
|
| Any
open flame or ignition source will cause Purell®
to burn much like Sterno®. Even though the alcohol
used in Purell® contains a denaturant, there have
been cases where alcohol addicted persons have injested
the product. Also using an alcohol based hand sanitizer
while smoking is extremely
dangerous and has caused severe burns. |
Is Purell® instant hand sanitizer toxic?
| Purell®
Instant Hand Sanitizer is not toxic if used properly.
|
| Denatured
alcohol at 62% can be flammable and a poison. |
|
Microsanrx
Foaming Hand Sanitizer is non-toxic and safe when used
as directed |
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Will Purell® instant hand sanitizer affect jewelry?
| Purell®
Instant Hand Sanitizer will not affect gold or silver,
but may affect some costume jewelry.
|
| Alcohol
effects many materials used to make jewelry. |
Is it FDA approved?
| Purell®
Instant Hand Sanitizer does meet the requirements in
the FDA's Tentative Final Monograph for Topical Antimicrobial
Products and the FDA's Good Manufacturing Practices
(GMP) requirements are followed. |
|
Microsanrx
Foaming Hand Sanitizer is regulated under the FDA tentative
final monograph and is manufactured under strict cGMP
manufacturing. |
|
Microsanrx
Foaming Hand Sanitizer is regulated under the FDA tentative
final monograph and is manufactured under strict cGMP
manufacturing. |
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