title: Studies on the use of povidone-iodine with the 'hygienic hand disinfection' test.
abstract: The DGHM test for hygienic hand disinfection is based on that of Rotter et al. (1980), and compares the ability of a test agent with 60% isopropanol to reduce Escherichia coli counts on artificially contaminated fingers using 15 volunteers. The test was performed seven times--three with 10% povidone-iodine (PVP-I) scrub, three with 10% PVP-I solution and once with 5% PVP-I solution. Initial tests with PVP-I scrub ('Betadine') gave comparable results with the iso-propanol, but the latter gave an activity below that normally expected, and specified in the Austrian standard (but not in the DGHM test). A repeat test with greater attention to detail gave similar activity with the scrub, but markedly greater activity from the iso-propanol so that the PVP-I scrub failed the test. Subsequent tests with four aqueous PVP-I solutions showed that all passed the tests with activity marginally greater than that of iso-propanol. Interestingly enough, two German formulations of PVP-I solution showed almost identical activity.
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Newsom
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matthews
mesh_terms: D000433:1-Propanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011205:Povidone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D012915:Soaps; D012996:Solutions
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D004202:Disinfectants; D012915:Soaps; D012996:Solutions; D011206:Povidone-Iodine; D000433:1-Propanol; D011205:Povidone