Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) may be spread within a hospital via the contaminated hands of the healthcare worker. Effective hand disinfectants are necessary to break chains of transmission. We determined the bactericidal activity of 1-propanol, chlorhexidine digluconate (0.5 and 4%). Sterillium (45% 2-propanol, 30% 1-propanol and 0.2% mecetronium etilsulphate), Skinsept F (70% 2-propa...

Methods The study was carried out on voluntary optional staff of the Intensive Care Unit of our hospital, randomized, without prior notice and without any special antisepsis in the hour prior to sampling. The dispenser has a steel chamber with a photoelectric cell that detects the introduction of the hands and activates its operation by spraying the hydroalcoholic solution. In the study used St...

Intervention 12 healthcare workers were allocated to handrubbing with a waterless alcohol based solution (45% 2-propanol, 30% 1-propanol, 0.2% mecetronium ethyl sulphate, average 3–5 ml; Sterillium, Bode Chemie, Hamburg, Germany), and 11 were allocated to handwashing with antiseptic soap (chlorhexidine gluconate 4%; Hibiscrub, Zeneca Pharma). All participants had previously been instructed on t...

Background and Objectives: Hand hygiene is a crucial measure for preventing healthcare-related infections. Surgical scrub is an important factor in the safety and success of a surgical operation. The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate effectiveness of some conventional surgical antiseptic solutions, and to identify the most effective one. Methods: Effectiveness of alcohol-based sol...

A comprehensive bactericidal activity of an alcohol-based hand rub is essential for prevention of cross-transmission by the hands of healthcare workers. In Europe, however, only four test organisms are used to determine bactericidal activity according to prEN 12054. The susceptibility of the various bacterial species against the commonly used alcohols is thought to be similar, but so far this h...

We read with interest the recent article by Batalla et al. on the use of hand hygiene and antisepsis products among health care professionals and the relationship between these products and hand eczema. While we are in full agreement with the central message of the article and the authors’ algorithm for the management of patients with intolerance to alcohol-based products, we would like to add ...

Background and Objectives: Hand hygiene is a crucial measure for preventing healthcare-related infections. Surgical scrub is an important factor in the safety and success of a surgical operation. The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate effectiveness of some conventional surgical antiseptic solutions, and to identify the most effective one. Methods: Effectiveness of alcohol-based s...

BACKGROUND The presence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and glycopeptide-intermediate S. aureus (GISA) in hospitals poses a significant challenge to hospital infection control teams. The use of disinfectants for both surface and hand cleaning is an essential part of the infection control measures. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of common hospital hand disinfecta...