Antiseptic technology: access, affordability, and acceptance.
Factors other than antimicrobial activity of soaps and antiseptic agents used for hand hygiene by health personnel play a role in compliance with recommendations. Hand hygiene products differ considerably in acceptance by hospital personnel. If switching from a nonmedicated soap to an antiseptic agent or increased use of an existing antiseptic agent for hand hygiene prevented a few more infections per year, additional expenditures for antiseptic agents would be offset by cost savings.
Boyce
J M
JM
Hospital of St. Raphael, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. JBoyce@srhs.org
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local