New non-alcoholic formulation for hand disinfection

Area of Science:

• Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
• Dermatology and Skin Health
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background:

• Hand hygiene is critical for infection prevention in healthcare settings.
• Current alcohol-based and chlorhexidine hand disinfectants have limitations.
• There is a need for effective and safe alternatives for hand disinfection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate a new hand disinfection combination of 5-pyrrolidone-2-carboxylic acid (PCA) and copper sulphate pentahydrate (CS).
• To evaluate its antimicrobial efficacy against common hand-colonizing bacteria and fungi.
• To compare its effectiveness with standard alcohol-based and chlorhexidine disinfectants.

Main Methods:

• Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) and Minimal Bactericidal Concentrations (MBCs) were determined for CS and PCA.
• Fractional Inhibitory Concentration (FIC) and Fractional Bactericidal Concentration (FBC) indices assessed synergistic effects.
• Tested microorganisms included Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, S. epidermidis, MDRSE, S. pyogenes, S. agalactiae, E. coli, and Candida albicans.

Main Results:

• Copper sulphate pentahydrate (CS) showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, with MICs/MBCs ranging from 781 mg/l to 12500 mg/l.
• PCA exhibited good antimicrobial activity, particularly against Streptococcus species.
• The CS-PCA combination displayed significant synergistic effects (FIC indices ≤0.500) and outperformed ethanol and isopropanol.

Conclusions:

• The combination of CS and PCA represents a potent new strategy for hand disinfection.
• This formulation offers superior efficacy compared to common alcohol-based disinfectants.
• The new hand disinfectant possesses residual activity and moisturizing properties, enhancing its potential for clinical use.