title: Surgical hand disinfection with a propanol-based hand rub: equivalence of shorter application times.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of a propanol-based hand rub at application times shorter than 3 min. The bacterial pre-value was obtained from the finger tips (prEN 12791). Subjects treated their hands with the reference procedure (n-propanol, 60%) for 3 min or the product (crossover design). Sterillium was applied for 3, 2, 1.5 and 1 min. Four other preparations were tested for 1 min. Post-values (immediate effect) were taken from one hand, and the other hand was gloved for 3h. After the gloves were removed, the second post-value was taken (sustained effect). Sterillium was more effective than the reference procedure at 3, 2 and 1.5 min (immediate and sustained effect). The immediate effect after 1 min was significantly lower [mean log(10) reduction factor (RF): 1.91+/-0.90 vs. 2.52+/-0.95; P=0.001], whereas the sustained effect was not (mean RF: 1.81+/-1.06 vs. 2.05+/-1.14; P=0.204). All other preparations failed the efficacy requirement at 1 min for both the immediate and sustained effect. Using 2 x 3 mL Sterillium for a total of 1.5 min for surgical hand disinfection was at least as effective as the 3-min reference disinfection.
authors.affiliation: BODE Chemie GmbH and Co., Scientific Affairs, Melanchthonstr. 27, 22525 Hamburg, Germany. guenter.kampf@bode-chemie.de
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kampf
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ostermeyer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Heeg
mesh_terms: D000433:1-Propanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005932:Gloves, Surgical; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D000433:1-Propanol