Comparison of the antibacterial efficacy and acceptability of an alcohol-based hand rinse with two alcohol-based hand gels during routine patient care.
The aims of this study were to compare the antibacterial efficacy of handrubbing with an alcoholic rinse (AHRR) and two different alcoholic gels (AHRG) in reducing hand contamination under practical use conditions. We wanted to assess the acceptability of the three products and to determine the effect of each product on overall hand hygiene compliance. A prospective alternating time-series clinical trial was performed in a medical intensive care unit. The study was divided into three six-week periods (P1, P2, P3). Handrubbing was achieved with Sterillium rinse (AHRR) during P1, sterillium gel(AHRG-1) during P2 and Manugel Plus (AHRG-2) during P3. Pre- and post-rubbing hand contaminations were assessed immediately after a direct contact with a patient, using the glove juice technique. Health care workers (HCWs) evaluated the acceptability of the products through a self-administered anonymous questionnaire. Compliance of HCWs with hand hygiene was assessed during the three periods. We studied 242 handrubbing opportunities. The mean reduction factor (expressed as the Log(10) CFU/mL) of the AHRR, AHRG-1 and AHRG-2 were 1.28+/-0.95, 1.29+/-0.84 and 0.51+/-0.73, respectively (p<0.001). Assessment of the three products by HCWs indicated that AHRR and AHRG-1 were significantly better accepted than AHRG-2. The overall compliance of HCWs to hand hygiene was better when gel was available. Under practical use conditions, AHRG-1 and AHRR were more effective than AHRG-2, although all were claimed to pass the European standard EN1500. In vivo trials are essential to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of products for handrubbing.
Barbut
Frédéric
F
Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Unité d'Hygiène et de Lutte contre les Infections Nosocomiales, 184 rue du faubourg Saint-Antoine, 75012 Paris 12, France. frederic.barbut@sat.ap-hop-paris.fr
Maury
Eric
E
Goldwirt
Laurianne
L
Boëlle
Piérre-Yves
PY
Neyme
Denis
D
Aman
Rubina
R
Rossi
Beatrice
B
Offenstadt
Georges
G
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005782:Gels; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D050296:Microbial Viability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005782:Gels; D000431:Ethanol