This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Reichel, M.
Right arrow Articles by Kampf, G.
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Reichel, M.
Right arrow Articles by Kampf, G.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, November 2009, p. 4778-4782, Vol. 53, No. 11
0066-4804/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AAC.00582-09
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Alcohols for Skin Antisepsis at Clinically Relevant Skin Sites{triangledown}

Mirja Reichel,1,2* Peter Heisig,2 Thomas Kohlmann,3 and Günter Kampf1,4

Bode Chemie GmbH, Scientific Affairs, Melanchthonstr. 27, 22525 Hamburg, Germany,1 Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and Microbiology, Institute of Pharmacy, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany,2 Institute of Community Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Walther-Rathenau-Str. 49a, 17487 Greifswald, Germany,3 Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Walther-Rathenau-Str. 48, 17487 Greifswald, Germany4

Received 30 April 2009/ Returned for modification 17 June 2009/ Accepted 31 August 2009

The antiseptic efficacy of ethanol, isopropanol, and n-propanol at 60%, 70%, and 89.5% (all vol/vol) was analyzed after 2, 3, or 4 min of application to the forehead, back, and abdomen of 180 volunteers by the use of a standardized swab sampling method. Results of recolonization by the aerobic skin flora of the upper arms and backs of 20 volunteers were compared 72 h after treatment with 0.5%, 1%, or 2% chlorhexidine digluconate (CHG) in 89.5% n-propanol. The most effective alcohol at all skin sites was n-propanol, with a mean log10 reduction of 1.82 after 2 min on the forehead. Efficacy against the aerobic flora of the forehead was mainly influenced by the type of alcohol (P < 0.001), followed by the concentration (P < 0.001) and the application time (P = 0.006). Ethanol and isopropanol were significantly less effective (both P < 0.001). Alcohol supplemented with 0.5% or more CHG was significantly more effective than alcohol alone in the suppression of recolonization (P < 0.05). An 89.5% solution of n-propanol was the most effective alcohol for the reduction of populations of aerobic skin flora. Its combination with CHG is appropriate whenever recolonization of the skin must be limited. Further studies are needed to determine the most effective concentration of CHG in n-propanol to provide the best protection against recolonization of the skin, e.g., for catheter site care.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Bode Chemie GmbH, Scientific Affairs, Melanchthonstr. 27, 22525 Hamburg, Germany. Phone: 49-40-54006276. Fax: 49-40-54006128. E-mail: mirja.reichel{at}bode-chemie.de

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 8 September 2009.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, November 2009, p. 4778-4782, Vol. 53, No. 11
0066-4804/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AAC.00582-09
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»