title: Comparison of the antibacterial efficacy of 4% chlorhexidine gluconate and 1% triclosan handwash products in an acute clinical ward.
abstract: The antibacterial efficacy of 4% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and 1% triclosan as handwash antiseptics is well established. Few published studies have identified hand bacteria found in glove juice samples, and most studies have used nonclinical study subjects. We report a longitudinal comparative study to determine the effect of 4% CHG and 1% triclosan on the composition of the hand bacterial flora of clinical staff in a specialist surgical unit. Prehandwash and posthandwash samples were collected on 3 separate occasions throughout each day by using the glove juice method and a supervised handwashing technique. Total bacterial counts were determined as well as counts for specific pathogens including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and coliforms. Both 4% CHG and 1% triclosan were found to effectively reduce the total hand bacterial count preduty (P =.0001). Four percent CHG also was consistently more effective at reducing the total count than was 1% triclosan. However, 1% triclosan eliminated methicillin-resistant S aureus, whereas 4% CHG failed to do so (P =.0001). Gram-negative bacteria were more likely to be eliminated after the use of 4% CHG compared with 1% triclosan. This study is the first to report the effects of 1% triclosan on the bacterial flora present on the hands of clinical staff and demonstrates the ability of 1% triclosan to eliminate methicillin-resistant S aureus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Queensland Health Pathology Service, Royal Brisbane Hospitals Campus, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Faoagali
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fong
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Davy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dowser
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D016017:Odds Ratio; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D014260:Triclosan / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D014260:Triclosan; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine