The guidance for effective hand washing and the use of hand sanitizer in community settings was developed based on data from a number of studies.”
- CDC Website
Alcohol has been used as an antiseptic at least as early as 1363 with evidence to support its use becoming available in the late 1800s. Alcohol-based hand sanitizer has been commonly used in Europe since at least the 1980s. The alcohol-based version is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines , the safest and most effective medicines needed in a health system .