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Do 'chlorine covers' exert a sustained bactericidal effect on the bacterial hand flora?
W Koller1, M L Rotter, W Gottardi
1Hygiene-Institute of the University, Vienna, Austria.
The Journal of Hospital Infection
|November 1, 1995
Summary
Chlorine covers on hands did not show sustained antimicrobial effects against transient or resident bacteria. Further research is needed to validate this skin disinfection method.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Dermatology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Previous studies indicated chlorine covers possess sustained bactericidal effects on transient skin flora.
- The efficacy of chlorine covers on hand flora, both transient and resident, required further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the sustained antimicrobial effect of chlorine covers on transient and resident hand flora.
- To assess the efficacy of chlorine covers using standardized hand disinfectant test models.
Main Methods:
- Hands were treated with a 2% sodium tosylchloramide solution to create chlorine covers.
- One hand was subsequently treated with 0.5% sodium thiosulphate to neutralize the chlorine cover.
- Bacterial die-off kinetics were analyzed on both chlorinated and dechlorinated hands using artificial and resident flora contamination models.
Main Results:
- Chlorine levels measured 2.2 +/- 0.4 micrograms/cm2 on chlorinated hands and 0.2 +/- 0.1 microgram/cm2 on dechlorinated hands.
- Bacterial die-off kinetics for Escherichia coli were similar on both treated and untreated hands.
- No significant increase in bacterial reduction was observed with prolonged contact with the chlorine cover on resident flora.
Conclusions:
- The tested chlorine cover method did not demonstrate a significant sustained antimicrobial effect on hand flora.
- The study's findings suggest limitations in the application of chlorine covers for hand disinfection using the employed test models.