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Contamination of mercurochrome and chlorhexidine-cetrimide in a teaching hospital
S Danchaivijitr1, S Chokloikaew, S Trakoolsomboon
1Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Abstract:
A study on the contamination of antiseptics was done in a teaching hospital, during March and April 1989. Ninety-five samples of 9 antiseptics from 23 wards were cultured. Results showed that 2 of 12 and 3 of 5 samples of mercurochrome and chlorhexidine-cetrimide compound were contaminated. This led to a wider scale study on the two products. It was found that over one-half of the samples of mercurochrome and 6 of 54 samples of chlorhexidine-etrimide compound were contaminated. Mercurochrome was contaminated by gram-positive and chlorhexidine-cetrimide compound by gram-negative bacteria. Contamination of mercurochrome was found in samples taken from the pharmacy and wards, and of chlorhexidine-cetrimide compound from wards only. Mercurochrome was removed from the hospital formulary and the use of chlorhexidine-cetrimide compound was more restricted.
Insights
Hospital antiseptic contamination was studied, revealing significant microbial contamination in mercurochrome and chlorhexidine-cetrimide compound. These findings led to restricted use of these antiseptics to ensure patient safety.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Hospital Infection Control
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
Background:
- Antiseptic contamination poses a significant risk in healthcare settings.
- Routine monitoring of antiseptic quality is crucial for patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the microbial contamination levels of commonly used antiseptics in a teaching hospital.
- To identify specific antiseptic agents and potential sources of contamination.
Main Methods:
- A microbiological culture study was conducted on 95 samples of 9 different antiseptics from 23 hospital wards.
- Initial screening identified mercurochrome and chlorhexidine-cetrimide compound as potentially contaminated, prompting a larger-scale investigation.
Main Results:
- Over 50% of mercurochrome samples and 11% of chlorhexidine-cetrimide compound samples were found to be contaminated.
- Mercurochrome contamination involved gram-positive bacteria, while chlorhexidine-cetrimide compound was contaminated by gram-negative bacteria.
- Contamination of mercurochrome occurred in both pharmacy and ward samples, whereas chlorhexidine-cetrimide compound contamination was limited to ward samples.
Conclusions:
- Mercurochrome exhibited high rates of microbial contamination and was subsequently removed from the hospital formulary.
- The use of chlorhexidine-cetrimide compound was restricted due to identified contamination issues.
- Findings underscore the importance of rigorous quality control for antiseptics in clinical practice.