Hand antiseptics: rubs versus scrubs, alcoholic solutions versus alcoholic gels

• Published in: The Journal of hospital infection Vol. 48; no. 48; pp. S33 - S36
• Main Author: Pietsch, H.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Kent Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2001; Elsevier
• Subjects: 1-Propanol - pharmacology; alcohols; Anti-Infective Agents, Local - pharmacology; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiseptics; Biological and medical sciences; Chlorhexidine - analogs & derivatives; Chlorhexidine - pharmacology; Dermatologic Agents - pharmacology; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Ethanol - pharmacology; Gels; Guideline Adherence; Guidelines as Topic; Hand Dermatoses - chemically induced; Hand Dermatoses - diagnosis; Hand Disinfection - methods; Hand Disinfection - standards; Humans; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Research Design; Skin - drug effects; Human; Health staff; Toxicity; Disinfection; Method; Hand; Biological activity; Antimicrobial agent; Efficiency; Formulation; Antiseptic; Secondary effect; Dosage form; Skin; Alcoholic solution; Disinfecting agent; Hygiene; Public health; Comparative study; Freeze
• ISSN: 0195-6701; 1532-2939
• DOI: 10.1016/S0195-6701(01)90010-6

This report describes three different investigations undertaken to demonstrate the advantage of fluid alcoholic hand disinfectants. In the first study, the skin compatibility of Sterillium, a liquid alcoholic rub-in hand disinfectant was compared with that of Hibiscrub, a water-based handwashing antiseptic. Using various parameters such as image analysis of removed squames (D-squames), skin roughness or transepidermal water loss, Hibiscrub was found to be significantly inferior to Sterillium. Hibiscrub caused skin irritation in 15 volunteers who could not complete the test. In a second study, the microbicidal efficacy of Sterillium and Hibiscrub was tested in surgical hand disinfection. The microbial reduction by Sterillium was significantly greater than that of Hibiscrub, immediately after application as well as after the surgical procedure. In a third study, certain alcoholic gels were tested according to the EN 1500 ‘hygienic hand disinfection’. None of the gels tested passed the EN 1500 within 30s. However, Sterillium met the EN 1500 requirement within 30s. We conclude that Sterillium is superior to Hibiscrub in terms of skin tolerance and microbicidal efficacy in surgical hand disinfection. It is also superior to alcoholic gels.