Contamination of mercurochrome and chlorhexidine-cetrimide in a teaching hospital.
A study on the contamination of antiseptics was done in a teaching hospital, during March and April 1989. Ninety-five samples of 9 antiseptics from 23 wards were cultured. Results showed that 2 of 12 and 3 of 5 samples of mercurochrome and chlorhexidine-cetrimide compound were contaminated. This led to a wider scale study on the two products. It was found that over one-half of the samples of mercurochrome and 6 of 54 samples of chlorhexidine-etrimide compound were contaminated. Mercurochrome was contaminated by gram-positive and chlorhexidine-cetrimide compound by gram-negative bacteria. Contamination of mercurochrome was found in samples taken from the pharmacy and wards, and of chlorhexidine-cetrimide compound from wards only. Mercurochrome was removed from the hospital formulary and the use of chlorhexidine-cetrimide compound was more restricted.
Danchaivijitr
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Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Chokloikaew
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Trakoolsomboon
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Tangtrakool
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T
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000592:standards; D000077286:Cetrimonium; D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds / Q000592:standards; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000592:standards; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004340:Drug Contamination; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000592:standards; D008622:Merbromin / Q000592:standards
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002593:Cetrimonium Compounds; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008622:Merbromin; D002710:Chlorhexidine; D000077286:Cetrimonium