title: Lack of antimicrobial efficacy of mecetronium etilsulfate in propanol-based hand rubs for surgical hand disinfection.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine if mecetronium etilsulfate (MES) contributes to overall efficacy in surgical hand disinfection. Three blinded hand rubs (45% iso-propanol, 30% n-propanol) were applied for 1.5 min and compared with the EN 12791 reference procedure (crossover design). One commercial hand rub contained 0.2% MES, and the two other hand rubs were identical apart from 0.2% MES. None of the formulations had a log10reduction after 3 h that was significantly better compared with the reference procedure [mean 1.72 (standard deviation 1.15)]. The antimicrobial contribution of MES in hand rubs is questionable.
authors.affiliation: Knieler und Team GmbH, Infection Control Science, Hamburg, Germany; Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany. Electronic address: guenter.kampf@uni-greifswald.de.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kampf
mesh_terms: D019840:2-Propanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C522448:ethylhexadecyldimethylammonium; D019840:2-Propanol
keywords: Mecetronium etilsulfate; Surgical hand disinfection; Sustained efficacy