title: Comparative antibacterial efficacy of a 2-minute surgical scrub with chlorhexidine gluconate, povidone-iodine, and chloroxylenol sponge-brushes.
abstract: Chlorhexidine gluconate (Hibiclens), povidone-iodine (E-Z Scrub 201), and chloroxylenol (ParaSoft) sponge-brushes were compared for antibacterial efficacy in 2-minute surgical scrubs. Thirty-nine volunteers completed a 7-day baseline period and a 5-day treatment period. Thirteen participants were assigned to a chlorhexidine group, 12 to a povidone-iodine group, and 14 to a chloroxylenol group. Subjects followed a standardized protocol, performing 11 scrubs during the treatment period. Bacterial counts were taken by the glove-juice procedure immediately after scrubbing and at 3 and 6 hours later on days 1, 2, and 5. The use of chlorhexidine achieved significantly (p less than 0.01) greater adjusted mean log10 bacterial count reductions than did povidone-iodine and chloroxylenol at all sampling times, with greater reductions as the study progressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of California, School of Medicine, San Francisco 94143.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aly
authors.forename: H I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Maibach
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003428:Cross Infection; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D011205:Povidone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D011206:Povidone-Iodine; D013997:Time Factors; D014992:Xylenes
chemical_list: D014992:Xylenes; C007027:chloroxylenol; D011206:Povidone-Iodine; D011205:Povidone; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine