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Ineffectiveness of Handwashing With Lotion Soap to Remove Nosocomial Bacterial Pathogens Persisting on Fingertips: A Major Link in Their Intrahospital Spread

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Edward J. Bottone ,
Mark Cheng  and
Saul Hymes
Edward J. Bottone*
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York
Mark Cheng
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York
Saul Hymes
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York
*
Division of Infectious Diseases, Box 1090, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY 10029
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Abstract

The effectiveness of five 30-second handwashes with a non-antiseptic lotion soap to remove nosocomial pathogens (108 CFU) applied to fingertips was studied. CFU for all species dropped rapidly after the first handwash; persistence (10 to 15 CFU) was maintained thereafter. Wiping hands with an antiseptic (70% isopropyl or 10% povidone-iodine) sponge removed persisters.

Type
Concise Communications
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 25 , Issue 3 , March 2004 , pp. 262 - 264
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2004

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