Effectiveness of body wipes as an adjunct to reducing skin infections in high school wrestlers.
OBJECTIVE
To compare soap-and-water body wipes and 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) body wipes to a CONTROL (no treatment) in reducing skin infections in high school wrestlers competing in weekend tournaments.


METHODS
Repeated measures study evaluating a soap-and-water body wipe, a 70% IPA body wipe, and no-treatment CONTROL during 2 weekend tournaments.


METHODS
High school wrestling tournaments in Minneapolis-St Paul and surrounding communities of Minnesota.


METHODS
Each team was randomly assigned to use either wipe or serve as CONTROL during each tournament.


METHODS
Presence of skin infections that developed the following week after a weekend tournament.


RESULTS
A total of 151 athletes competed in a total of 474 individual matches. Thirteen athletes tested positive afterward for skin infections. The odds of infection for the tested group compared with the CONTROL group were 0.089 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.01-0.75; P = 0.026] for the soap-and-water group and 0.44 (95% CI, 0.11-1.69; P = 0.23) for 70% IPA group.


CONCLUSIONS
Soap-and-water wipes seem to be more effective in reducing skin infections compared with the no-treatment group.
Primary Care Department, Boynton Health Services, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA. amosnandie@comcast.net
B J
BJ
Anderson
D019840:2-Propanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000293:Adolescent; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008910:Minnesota / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012915:Soaps / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014952:Wrestling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D012915:Soaps; D019840:2-Propanol