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The Efficacy of Several New Handwashing Agents for Removing Non-Transient Bacterial Flora from Hands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Allan J. Morrison Jr. ,
Jean Gratz ,
Ignacio Cabezudo  and
Richard P. Wenzel
Allan J. Morrison Jr.
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Hospital, Charlottesville, Virginia
Jean Gratz
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Hospital, Charlottesville, Virginia
Ignacio Cabezudo
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Hospital, Charlottesville, Virginia
Richard P. Wenzel*
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia Hospital, Charlottesville, Virginia
*
Department of Internal Medicine, Box473, University of Virginia Hospital, Charlottesville, VA 22908
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Abstract

Forty subjects participated in a study of four handwashing agents evaluated for their efficacy in removing non-transient bacteria: 70% isopropanol, 0.05% stabilized iodine, 4% chlorhexidine gluconate, and 1% para-chloro-meta-xylenol. Each subject performed a non-medicated handwash to remove transient flora. Afterwards, three consecutive experimental handwashes were performed using a 10-second contact time, and a fourth handwash employed a 1-minute contact time. Quantitative post-handwash cultures were obtained using the sterile bag technique incorporating an effective agent neutralizer. Significant mean log10 reductions were documented for chlorhexidine gluconate, but only after the third (P=.05) and fourth (p=.004) handwash; however, the total log10 reduction was less than 1.0 for any single agent.

Subsequently, three evaporative handwash agents, including 70% isopropanol, 0.5% chlorhexidine in 70% isopropanol, and a 60% isopropanol formulation containing evaporative retardants, were tested in 14 subjects. Contact time was prolonged to the point of evaporation prior to culturing. Four consecutive post-handwash cultures were obtained after performing a baseline pre-handwash culture. When compared with the other two evaporative agents, the 60% isopropanol formulation demonstrated significant mean log10 reductions for each handwash (p ≤ .03), with a total log10 reduction of 2.9 over all four handwashes (p=.0001). The brief contact time incorporated in our handwashing technique reflects clinical usage patterns. The marked bacterial reduction demonstrated by the 60% isopropanol formulation warrants further study.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 7 , Issue 5 , May 1986 , pp. 268 - 272
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1986

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