Antimicrobial and hand hygiene effects of Tea Tree Essential Oil disinfectant: A randomised control trial

Hand hygiene is paramount in preventing healthcare-associated infections in medical environments and the spread of infectious diseases in non-medical environments.

This study used a randomised controlled trial to investigate the effects of a tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) oil disinfectant on hand disinfection and skin condition.

A tea tree oil group received 5 mL of 10% tea tree oil disinfectant mixed in a ratio of 2:2:1:15 of Melaleuca alternifolia oil, solubiliser, glycerin and sterile distilled water. Data collection took place between April 9 and April 13, 2018. The subjects were 112 healthy adults. An alcohol group received 2 mL of a gel-type hand sanitiser comprising 83% ethanol used without water; a benzalkonium chloride group received 0.8 mL of a foam-type hand sanitiser containing benzalkonium chloride used without water and a control group received no treatment. Subjective skin condition, transepidermal water loss and adenosine triphosphate were assessed, and a microbial culture test was performed following treatment.

The general characteristics and the pretreatment dependent variables did not differ significantly by group. Posttreatment adenosine triphosphate log₁₀ values significantly differed across all four groups (F = 3.23, P = .025). Similarly, posttreatment bacterial density log₁₀ values differed significantly across the tea tree oil, alcohol, benzalkonium chloride and control groups (F = 91.71, P < .001).

The study confirmed that tea tree oil disinfectant is effective for hand disinfection. Accordingly, tea tree oil disinfectants may be introduced to nursing practice as a new hand hygiene product to prevent and reduce healthcare-associated infections.