[Comparative studies on preoperative skin disinfection]

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Infectious Diseases
• Hospital Hygiene

Background:

• Effective skin disinfection is crucial in surgical settings to prevent healthcare-associated infections.
• Several disinfectants, including Sepso-tincture, Kodan, Dibromol, and 70% ethanol, are commonly used.
• Understanding the duration of antibacterial action and microorganism regeneration is vital for optimal infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the antibacterial efficacy of Sepso-tincture, Kodan, Dibromol, and 70% ethanol on patient skin.
• To evaluate the regeneration of microorganisms over time after application of these disinfectants.
• To identify the disinfectant with the most sustained antibacterial effect.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 34 patients from a surgical department.
• Application of Sepso-tincture, Kodan, Dibromol, and 70% ethanol as skin disinfectants.
• Monitoring and quantification of microorganism regeneration at 2, 10, and 60 minutes post-application.

Main Results:

• All tested disinfectants exhibited similar antibacterial effects at the 2-minute mark.
• Significant differences in microorganism regeneration were observed at 10 and 60 minutes.
• Sepso-tincture showed the least microorganism regeneration, indicating a more prolonged antibacterial effect (P < 0.01 at 10 min, P < 0.05 at 60 min).

Conclusions:

• Sepso-tincture provides a more sustained antibacterial effect on the skin compared to Kodan, Dibromol, and 70% ethanol.
• The choice of disinfectant can significantly impact long-term microbial control in surgical environments.
• Further research may validate Sepso-tincture as a preferred agent for prolonged skin antisepsis.