Antimicrobial activity of a novel adhesive containing chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) against the resident microflora in human volunteers.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of a new, transparent composite film dressing, whose adhesive contains chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), against the native microflora present on human skin.


METHODS
CHG-containing adhesive film dressings and non-antimicrobial control film dressings were applied to the skin on the backs of healthy human volunteers without antiseptic preparation. Dressings were removed 1, 4 or 7 days after application. The bacterial populations underneath were measured by quantitative cultures (cylinder-scrub technique) and compared with one another as a function of time.


RESULTS
The mean baseline microflora recovery was 3.24 log10 cfu/cm(2). The mean log reductions from baseline measured from underneath the CHG-containing dressings were 0.87, 0.78 and 1.30 log10 cfu/cm(2) on days 1, 4 and 7, respectively, compared with log reductions of 0.67, -0.87 and -1.29 log10 cfu/cm(2) from underneath the control film dressings. There was no significant difference between the log reductions of the two treatments on day 1, but on days 4 and 7 the log reduction associated with the CHG adhesive was significantly higher than that associated with the control adhesive.


CONCLUSIONS
The adhesive containing CHG was associated with a sustained antimicrobial effect that was not present in the control. Incorporating the antimicrobial into the adhesive layer confers upon it bactericidal properties in marked contrast to the non-antimicrobial adhesive, which contributed to bacterial proliferation when the wear time was ≥4 days.
Vancive Medical Technologies™, 20 N. Wacker Drive Suite 2240, Chicago, IL 60606, USA neal.carty@averydennison.com.
Neal
N
Carty
Vancive Medical Technologies™, 20 N. Wacker Drive Suite 2240, Chicago, IL 60606, USA.
Anne
A
Wibaux
Vancive Medical Technologies™, 20 N. Wacker Drive Suite 2240, Chicago, IL 60606, USA.
Colleen
C
Ward
BioScience Laboratories, Inc., 1765 S. 19th Avenue, Bozeman, MT 59718, USA.
Daryl S
DS
Paulson
Vancive Medical Technologies™, 20 N. Wacker Drive Suite 2240, Chicago, IL 60606, USA.
Peter
P
Johnson
D000269:Adhesives / Q000494:pharmacology; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058491:Bacterial Load; D001458:Bandages / Q000382:microbiology*; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D064368:Healthy Volunteers; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D064307:Microbiota / Q000187:drug effects*; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*
D000269:Adhesives; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C010882:chlorhexidine gluconate; D002710:Chlorhexidine
IV securement; antisepsis; catheter-related infections; cutaneous flora; dressing; infection control; vascular access