In a field trial of three disinfectant-detergent preparations for the surgical scrub Hibiscrub (a 4% chlorhexidine detergent solution) maintained a significantly greater residual antibacterial action on the skin of the gloved hands of an operating team than was obtained with Disadine (povidone-iodine detergent preparation) (P<0.001). In comparison with Phisohex (3% hexachlorophane in detergent ...

The problem of infection has been persistent in the surgical world even after the introduction of antibiotics. Pathogens that infect surgical wounds can be part of normal flora or acquired from the hospital environment or other infected patients. Staphylococcus aureus, being the normal microbial flora of the skin is one of the commonest causes of wound infection. A total of 1088 pus samples fro...

AIMS Devriesea agamarum infection causes chronic proliferative dermatitis, especially in desert dwelling lizards. The present study was concerned with evaluating persistency of D. agamarum in the environment and the evaluation of the efficacy of various disinfection procedures. METHODS AND RESULTS First, the survival of D. agamarum was assessed both in dermal crusts obtained from clinically a...

In previous studies we compared the relative value of alternative methods for disinfecting the hands of nurses and surgeons and the skin of operation sites, but a number of relevant questions were not considered. For disinfection of the operation site alcoholic solutions of chlorhexidine (0.5%) and iodine (1%) were found to be equally effective and superior to a number of other agents (Lowbury,...

The amount, composition, and localization of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria in the normal skin before and after disinfection were the subject of a volunteer study. The superficial bacterial flora were sampled by velvet pad imprints, and the deep flora were determined from whole skin biopsies. Only one anaerobic species, Propionebacterium acnes, was encountered even though other and more strict ...

Much cross-infection can be prevented by using chemical disinfectants to reduce the numbers of pathogens in sources such as superficial lesions and carrier sites, and by interrupting routes of spread. Examples are given to show the value of using disinfectants in the light of epidemiological knowledge.