title: Chlorhexidine is a better antiseptic than povidone iodine and sodium hypochlorite because of its substantive effect.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study compared both the antiseptic efficacy of sodium hypochlorite against that of chlorhexidine gluconate in isopropyl alcohol and the substantive effect of chlorhexidine, povidone iodine, and sodium hypochlorite.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a 2-step study that included volunteers. In step 1, 4 skin areas were tested for bacteria in colony-forming units (CFU): 2 were controls to determine baseline bacteria or the effect of scrubbing, and 2 were treated with 10% hypochlorite or 2% chlorhexidine in isopropyl alcohol. Every subject was tested 4 times. The second step tested the substantive effect of 10% povidone-iodine and the aforementioned antiseptics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the first step, 30 volunteers were studied, resulting in 120 determinations for each control and antiseptic. No differences between chlorhexidine gluconate (median 115 CFU/cm(2)) and sodium hypochlorite (median 115 CFU/cm(2)) were found. Both antiseptics were significantly different from rubbing control (317 CFU/cm(2)) and basal control (606 CFU/cm(2)). Only chlorhexidine showed a substantive effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We consider that chlorhexidine gluconate in isopropyl alcohol, sodium hypochlorite, and povidone-iodine is equally effective for procedures that do not require a long action. However, chlorhexidine is desirable for procedures such as catheter insertion, skin preparation for surgery, or handwashing prior to surgery.
authors: University of Guanajuato, Leon Guanajuato, Mexico City, Mexico. aaeemmhh@yahoo.com
authors: Juan H
authors: JH
authors: Macias
authors: Virginia
authors: V
authors: Arreguin
authors: Juan M
authors: JM
authors: Munoz
authors: Jose A
authors: JA
authors: Alvarez
authors: Juan L
authors: JL
authors: Mosqueda
authors: Alejandro E
authors: AE
authors: Macias
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D011206:Povidone-Iodine; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; D002710:Chlorhexidine