Assessment of alternative hand hygiene regimens to improve skin health among neonatal intensive care unit nurses.
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.
Larson
E
E
Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Silberger
M
M
Jakob
K
K
Whittier
S
S
Lai
L
L
Della Latta
P
P
Saiman
L
L
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
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D012915:Soaps; D019840:2-Propanol; D002710:Chlorhexidine