title: Towards an antimicrobial 'microglove'.
abstract: A large proportion of hospital-related infections are acquired and spread due to the direct contacts between patients and healthcare workers. Accordingly, proper infection prevention measures, and especially hand hygiene, are key to limit the spread of infections in nosocomial settings. However, healthcare workers frequently experience difficulties in complying strictly to hand disinfection protocols. This study was therefore aimed at the development of a hand rub with antimicrobial activity that forms a protective film on the hand, a so-called microglove, in order to enhance hand hygiene. For this purpose, various co-polymer formulations consisting of different ratios of Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and a branched C20 derivatized maleate (M20) in combination with the known biocide benzalkonium chloride (BKC) were tested for their combined film-forming and antimicrobial activities. The results of a series of novel contamination and transmission assays show that a formulation of 80% PVP and 20% M20 co-polymer with 0.9% BKC fulfils the elementary requirements for an antimicrobial microglove.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, P.O. Box 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ewoud
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Reilman
authors.affiliation: PolyVation B.V., Kadijk 7D, P.O. Box 70033, 9704 AA Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Joke G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Hagting
authors.affiliation: PolyVation B.V., Kadijk 7D, P.O. Box 70033, 9704 AA Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Flipsen
authors.affiliation: PolyVation B.V., Kadijk 7D, P.O. Box 70033, 9704 AA Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Herb
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ulmer
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical microbiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, P.O. Box 30001, 9700 RB Groningen, the Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan Maarten
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: van Dijl
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient / Q000517:prevention & control; D008298:Maleates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011205:Povidone / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds; D004202:Disinfectants; D008298:Maleates; C030272:maleic acid; D011205:Povidone