title: [Comparative study of the cost/effectiveness of surgical wash with various antiseptics].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  "Surgical scrub" of the hands and arms is a fundamental procedure for reducing infection risk. We undertook this study in order to compare different antiseptics and their microbicidal effects, costs and times of the procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty students followed the surgical scrub procedure using benzalkonium chloride. Seven days later the students used povidone-iodine and, 7 days after that, they used chlorhexidine/alcohol. After the surgical scrub, cultures were obtained from the palms of their hands and from their nail beds. The students wore sterile gloves, which were removed 30 min later to obtain new cultures from the same sites. The cost of the products was calculated in Mexican pesos and the time of each procedure was measured in minutes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant difference in the number of colony-forming units (CFUs). The number of CFUs was lower in the groups of students who used chlorhexidine/alcohol and povidone-iodine as compared to the benzalkonium chloride group. There was no difference between chlorhexidine/alcohol and povidone-iodine. Costs were higher for povidone-iodine and benzalkonium chloride compared to chlorhexidine/alcohol. Procedure times were similar with povidone-iodine and benzalkonium chloride but the time was reduced approximately five times when using chlorhexidine/alcohol.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is a proven fact that the lack of surgical scrub favors wound infections, longer hospital stays and increased costs. Therefore, further studies are needed to determine the best antiseptic according to cost/benefit. Chlorhexidine/alcohol proved to be the superior antiseptic in terms of cost/benefit compared to povidone-iodine and benzalkonium chloride.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirugía, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México, D. F., Mexico. tapiajj@amcg.org.mx
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tapia-Jurado
authors.forename: Wulfrano
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Reyes-Arellano
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: García-García
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Corona
authors.forename: Carmen Magdalena
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Peña-Jiménez
authors.forename: Benjamín
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: León-Mancilla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000191:economics*; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds / Q000191:economics*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005542:Forearm / Q000382:microbiology; D013502:General Surgery; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D007396:Internship and Residency; D009262:Nails / Q000382:microbiology; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000191:economics*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds; D011206:Povidone-Iodine; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine