Acute ethanol intoxication in an elderly patient due to accidental ingestion of hand sanitizer: A case report

Abstract

We herein report the case of an elderly patient with acute ethanol intoxication due to accidental ingestion of hand sanitizer. The patient was a 92-year-old female with dementia and hypertension who was a nursing home resident. She was transferred to our hospital due to shock, altered mental status and vomiting. The nursing home staff reported that a bottle of ethanol-containing hand sanitizer had been found on her bedside table in her room, with the lid removed and the contents reduced. Since her blood ethanol concentration (BEC) was 300 mg/dL or higher (upper limit measured by our hospital), she was diagnosed with acute ethanol intoxication and was hospitalized for observation. On the second day, her BEC decreased to 189 mg/dL and her level of consciousness improved. She was transferred to another hospital on the 5th day. Ethanol-containing hand sanitizers have emerged as an important tool in the prevention of COVID-19 infection. It is necessary to be aware that the concentration of ethanol in commonly used disinfectant solutions is about 80%, and accidental ingestion of this might lead to symptoms of toxicity, such as altered mental status. Hence, it is necessary to prevent accidental ingestion of hand sanitizers, especially by the elderly.