Bactericidal activity of antiseptics against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Various commonly used antiseptics were tested against three strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at stock strength and in serial 10-fold dilutions. The stock solutions of 4% chlorhexidine gluconate-alcohol (Hibiclens), 1% p-chloro-m-xylenol (Acute-Kare), and 3% hexachlorophene (Phisohex) produced 2-log reductions of MRSA after a 15-s exposure, but even after 240 s, these solutions failed to kill all the MRSA. Povidone-iodine (Betadine) solution was maximally effective at the 1:100 dilution, killing all the MRSA within 15 s; other dilutions were less effective, though each killed the MRSA within 120 s. Similar results were obtained with three different strains of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. Thus, of the four most commonly used antiseptics, povidone-iodine, when diluted 1:100, was the most rapidly bactericidal against both MRSA and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus.
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local