Comparison of four antiseptic products containing chlorhexidine gluconate.
The purpose of this study was to compare the antimicrobic efficacies of four formulations of chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) for handwashing under frequent-use conditions. Fifty volunteers were assigned by block randomization to one of five products: one of two liquid detergents containing 4% CHG, a liquid detergent containing 2% CHG, a foam containing 4% CHG, and a nonantiseptic soap (control). Subjects washed their hands by a standardized technique 15 times per day for 5 days. After days 1 and 5 of handwashing, there was a significant reduction in log CFU for subjects using all four CHG-containing products compared with subjects using control soap and for subjects within each group after days 1 and 5 compared with the base-line CFU counts (all P less than 0.05). There were no significant differences between the four CHG products at any testing time. We conclude that all four formulations are satisfactory for clinical use.
Larson
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School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205.
Laughon
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BE
D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D011897:Random Allocation; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine