Effect on the reduction of bacterial load after surgical hand antisepsis with triclosan 0.5% compared to triclosan 0.5% followed by 70% alcoholic solution

Triclosan 0.5% by scrubbing does not meet the UNE-EN12791 criteria to be used in the surgical hand preparation (SHP). Triclosan 0.5% by scrubbing followed by ethanol 70% hand rubbing is suitable without the additional characteristic of sustained effect. This limited effectiveness implies that triclosan should be avoided in SHP given the restrictions on its use in consumer antiseptic products. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT04538365).

Comparing rubbing and scrubbing surgical hand antisepsis with propan-1-ol 60% in accordance with European regulation UNE-EN 12791:2016+A1:2018

A crossover trial was conducted to compare hand rub and hand scrub-brush methods for reducing bacterial loads when using propan-1-ol-60% according to European regulations. Both methods significantly reduced the bacterial load immediately after antisepsis, but only the hand rub method achieved significant bacterial load reduction 3 hours after the procedure.

In Vivo Comparison of Chlorine-Based Antiseptics versus Alcohol Antiseptic for Surgical Hand Antisepsis

Despite being commonly used as effective preparation for surgical hand antisepsis, alcohol solutions have major drawbacks, such as drying effect, emergence of hand eczema, and other diseases. This study aimed to demonstrate the effectiveness of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as antiseptic in comparison to single sodium hypochlorite and 70% ethanol. In 5-day tests, the effects of 3 antiseptics were established according to standard test methods. The antiseptics were applied to the hands of 82 volunteers, and samples of bacteria were collected on days 1 and 5, immediately after drying and 6 hours later after antiseptic application. Student’s t test and ANOVA were applied in a statistical study. The NaOCl with H2O2 composition demonstrated noninferiority to both sodium hypochlorite only and alcohol products and superiority to these antiseptics on day 5 (P<0.05 at a significance level of 5% for each comparative trial in this day) at equivalence margin of 20%. The effectiveness of the NaOCl plus H2O2 composition as an antiseptic was explained by the formation of singlet oxygen in the system. Together, these data suggest that NaOCl and H2O2 may be an effective hand antisepsis that avoids the drawbacks seen with alcohol solutions.

Hand Washing Before and After Applying Different Hand Hygiene Techniques in Places of Public Concern in Tripoli-Libya

Background:Hand hygiene has being considered as one of the primary measures to improve standards and practice for hospital care and to minimize the transmission of nosocomial pathogens. There is substantial evidence that incidence of hospital acquired infections is reduced by applying hand antisepsis. Regarding hand hygiene and public concern, hand washing has revealed that 85% of the observed adults wash their hands after using public toilets.Objective:To compare the efficacy of hand rubbing with an alcohol based solution versus conventional hand washing with antiseptic and non-antiseptic soaps in reducing bacterial counts using different hand hygiene techniques.Methods:Ninety-three volunteers took part in this study; 57 from Tripoli Medical Center (TMC); 16 from school; 11 from bank; and 9 from office. All volunteers performed six hand hygiene techniques, immediately before and after a volunteer practice activity: hand washing with non-antiseptic soap for 10 and 30 second (s); hand washing with antiseptic soap for 10, 30 or 60 s; and alcohol-based hand rub. A total of 864 specimens were taken: 432 before and 432 after volunteer's hand hygiene. The fingertips of the dominant hand for each volunteer were pressed on to agar for culture before and after each hand hygiene technique. Plates were incubated at 37oC, and colony-forming units were counted after 48 hours and pathogenic bacteria were identified.Results:Results showed that 617 specimens (71.41%) were positive for bacterial growth. 301 (48.78%) were from TMC, 118 (19.12%) were from office; 107 (14.34%) were from school and 91 (14.75%) were from bank.Conclusion:Both antiseptic and non–antiseptic soaps did not work properly in reducing bacterial counts of worker’s hands at all places of study, but significantly improved by an application of alcohol based gel.