title: A microbiological in-use comparison of surgical hand-washing agents.
abstract: Seven different surgical hand-scrub agents (one triclosan compound, two hexachlorophene compounds, and four iodophors) were evaluated under in-use conditions by five persons for efficacy in degerming the hands and forearms prior to performing a total of 215 total hip arthroplasties. With all of the compounds tested there was a significant reduction (p less than or equal to 0.001) of indigenous skin microflora from prescrub levels at both the post-scrub and postoperative points. The two hexachlorophene compounds in general revealed a bacteriostatic effect whereas the triclosan compound and the four iodophors did not. A hexachlorophene compound applied as a foam demonstrated excellent bacteriocidal and bacteriostatic action, was less time-consuming and easier to use than compounds applied as scrubs, and did not alter a low (0.47 per cent) in-use infection rate over a period of three years.
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000592:standards*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D006225:Hand; D006582:Hexachlorophene / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007466:Iodophors / Q000592:standards; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000592:standards; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D014260:Triclosan / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007466:Iodophors; D014260:Triclosan; D011206:Povidone-Iodine; D006582:Hexachlorophene