Prevention of nosocomial infection during dermoscopy?

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Infection Control
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Dermatoscopes use immersion fluids (IF) like oil or alcohol to reduce light reflection during examinations.
• Staphylococcus aureus has been detected on dermatoscopes using mineral oil, indicating a risk of nosocomial infection transmission.
• Current IFs may pose a risk for spreading infections in clinical settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate an alcohol-based antibacterial gel as an alternative immersion fluid for dermatoscopes.
• To assess the gel's efficacy in preventing bacterial transmission.
• To determine if the gel maintains or improves optical resolution during dermatoscopic procedures.

Main Methods:

• Three dermatoscopes were cultured for aerobic bacteria after routine patient examinations.
• An alcohol-based antibacterial gel was used as the immersion fluid (IF) during these examinations.
• Optical resolution was compared between the antibacterial gel, standard dermatoscopy oil, and alcohol wipes.

Main Results:

• No bacterial growth was observed on dermatoscopes after using the alcohol-based antibacterial gel.
• The optical resolution provided by the antibacterial gel was comparable to traditional dermatoscopy oil.
• The antibacterial gel demonstrated superior optical resolution compared to alcohol wipes.

Conclusions:

• Alcohol-based antibacterial gel effectively inhibits bacterial colonization on dermatoscopes.
• The gel provides excellent optical resolution, suitable for dermatoscopic examinations.
• Utilizing alcohol-based antibacterial gel as an immersion fluid can mitigate the risk of nosocomial infections associated with dermatoscopy.