title: Assessment of alternative hand hygiene regimens to improve skin health among neonatal intensive care unit nurses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The frequent handwashing and gloving required in high-risk, high-volume patient care areas such as critical care units damages skin of the hands. The purpose of this exploratory study was to compare 2 hand care regimens (traditional antiseptic wash with chlorhexidine-containing detergent versus mild soap wash with subsequent alcohol-based rinse for degerming as necessary) in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, quasi-experimental, random assignment.
  
  
  METHODS
  One NICU (47 beds) in a New York City children's hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen full-time NICU nurses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microbial flora and skin condition of hands.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nurses were randomly assigned to one of the 2 hand care regimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences in microbial counts or types of organisms from hands of staff were found, but after 2 weeks nurses in the mild soap and alcohol group had significant improvements in their skin condition (P =.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of a mild soap for cleaning and an alcohol-based product for degerming may offer an acceptable alternative to the traditional antiseptic handwash and may reduce skin damage to health care professionals' hands.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Larson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silberger
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jakob
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Whittier
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Della Latta
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saiman
mesh_terms: D019840:2-Propanol; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000009:adverse effects; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000009:adverse effects; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000592:standards*; D017283:Neonatal Nursing; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods; D012915:Soaps
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D012915:Soaps; D019840:2-Propanol; D002710:Chlorhexidine