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Improving the Supertowel: An Alternative Hand Cleaning Product for Emergencies

NCT04312334 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 32

Last updated 2020-06-05

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The Supertowel is a microfiber towel treated with a permanent anti-microbial bonding and has been designed as a soap alternative in emergency situations.The treated fabric must be dipped in water and then rubbed against the hands so that pathogens will be transferred to the fabric where they will be killed. Over the last two years the investigators have been able to prove, under controlled laboratory conditions, that hand cleaning with the Supertowel is more efficacious than handwashing soap and water. Another field study conducted by the investigators in a refugee camp in Northern Ethiopia indicated that the Supertowel is an acceptable and desirable product among crisis-affected populations and is likely to result in more frequent handwashing in these difficult circumstances.

The aim of this study is to develop greater evidence on whether the Supertowel remains is as efficacious when used under conditions which mimic "real-world hand cleaning conditions". This will be tested through a set of controlled laboratory experiments with healthy volunteers in India.

Conditions

  • Escherichia Coli Change

Interventions

OTHER

Control

Soap: Non-antimicrobial bar soap will be used as a reference product for four of the the experiments. Hand-cleaning with SuperTowel will be the reference produce for two of the experiments.

OTHER

Treatment

The Supertowel is a durable fabric with a permanent anti-microbial treatment. The treated fabric must be dipped in water and then rubbed against the hands so that pathogens will be transferred to the fabric where they will be killed.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Kelkar Education Trust's Scientific Research Centre, Mumbai (India)

    collaborator OTHER

  • Real Relief Health ApS,Essen 26, 6000 Kolding, Denmark

    collaborator UNKNOWN

  • United States Agency for International Development (USAID)

    collaborator FED

  • London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Belen Torondel, Dr · Dr

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Sex
MALE
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2020-02-25
Primary Completion
2020-04-30
Completion
2020-05-30

Countries

  • India

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT04312334 on ClinicalTrials.gov