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Effectiveness of Hand Hygiene for Removal of Clostridium difficile Spores from Hands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Sarah L. Edmonds*
Affiliation:
Research and Development, GOJO Industries, Akron, Ohio
Carrie Zapka
Affiliation:
Research and Development, GOJO Industries, Akron, Ohio
Douglas Kasper
Affiliation:
Hines VA Hospital and Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
Robert Gerber
Affiliation:
Hines VA Hospital and Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
Robert McCormack
Affiliation:
Bioscience Laboratories, Chicago, Illinois
David Macinga
Affiliation:
Research and Development, GOJO Industries, Akron, Ohio
Stuart Johnson
Affiliation:
Hines VA Hospital and Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
Susan Sambol
Affiliation:
Hines VA Hospital and Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
Christopher Fricker
Affiliation:
Research and Development, GOJO Industries, Akron, Ohio
James Arbogast
Affiliation:
Research and Development, GOJO Industries, Akron, Ohio
Dale N. Gerding
Affiliation:
Hines VA Hospital and Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois
*
PO Box 991, Akron, OH 44309 ([email protected])

Abstract

This study determined whether surrogate organisms can predict activity against Clostridium difficile spores and compared the efficacy of hand hygiene preparations against C. difficile. Our data suggest that surrogate organisms were not predictive of C. difficile spore removal. Four preparations were significantly more effective than tap water at removing C. difficile.

Type
Concise Communication
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2013

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