Antisepsis versus antimicrobial chemotherapy and indications for eye antisepsis.
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Alcohol-based products for skin antisepsis have a long history of safety and efficacy in the United States and abroad. However, alcohol alone lacks the required antimicrobial persistence to provide for the sustained periods of skin antisepsis desired in the clinical environment. Therefore, alcohol-based products must have a preservative agent such as iodine/iodophor compounds, chlorhexidine gluconate, or zinc pyrithione, to extend its antimicrobial effects. Iodine, iodophors, and chlorhexidine gluconate are well-characterized antimicrobials and preservatives. The thrust of our effort was to examine the characteristics of the lesser-known zinc pyrithione and to evaluate its utility as a preservative in the formulation of alcohol-based products for skin antisepsis. This work includes a literature review of current zinc pyrithione applications in drugs and cosmetics, a safety and toxicity evaluation, consideration of the proposed mechanisms of antimicrobial action, in vitro and in vivo efficacy data, and a discussion of the mechanisms that confer the desired antimicrobial persistence. In addition, alcohol-based, zinc pyrithione-preserved, commercially available products of skin antisepsis are compared with other commercially available antimicrobials used for skin antisepsis and with additional alcohol-based products with different preservatives. The authors' conclusion is that zinc pyrithione is not only a safe and effective antimicrobial but that its use in certain alcohol-based formulations results in antimicrobial efficacy exceeding that of iodine and chlorhexidine gluconate.
INTRODUCTION: The aim of this monocentric, randomized, comparative, open study was to evaluate the safety of Amukine 0.06% solution (an isotonic hypochloride sodium solution) versus a 5% povidone iodine solution (Bétadine 5% solution for ocular irrigation) in antisepsis before cataract surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and thirteen patients, aged between 49 and 90 years, were included and split, after randomization, into two groups: one testing Amukine 0.06%, the other testing a 5% povidone iodine solution. For each group, after local anesthesia, the antiseptic procedure consisted of an antisepsis of periocular teguments followed by an eye antisepsis through the instillation of two drops of the tested product in the conjunctival fornices. The safety evaluation was performed by grading superficial punctate keratitis 24 hours after surgery (slit lamp examination after fluorescein instillation). Conjunctival hyperemia scores by examination of the bulbar conjunctiva before the first instillation, immediately before surgery, and 24 hours after surgery were also compared. RESULTS: One hundred and seven reports were analyzed. Concerning the presence of corneal superficial punctate keratitis 24 hours after surgery, mean scores were not different (0.27 for the Amukine 0.06% group and 0.38 for the povidone iodine group; p=0.27 Mann Whitney test). The observations did not show a different progression of conjunctival hyperemia depending on the treatment group (p=0.65 (immediately after application) and p=0.52 (after 24 hours); Mann Whitney test). CONCLUSION: In this study, the ocular safety of Amukine 0.06% solution was not different from a 5% povidone iodine solution. Therefore, Amukine 0.06% is a new interesting approach to surgical antisepsis in ophthalmology and an alternative in case of iodine allergy.
The effect of chlorhexidine antisepsis on bacteriuria, perineal colonization by coliforms and environmental contamination by these organisms was investigated in spinally injured patients treated by intermittent catheterization. Patients were body washed daily in chlorhexidine and chlorhexidine cream was applied to the glans penis after each catheterization. Urine cultures were obtained each day. A statistically significant reduction in bacteriuria was achieved by antisepsis in male patients not receiving antibiotics, from 74% of urine cultures in patients receiving soap to 60% with antisepsis (P less than 0.01). No effect of antisepsis was found on perineal coliform colonization, nor on contamination of bed sheets or the environment by these organisms. There was a significant reduction in perineal coliforms by antibiotics.
After preoperative conjunctival and periorbital antisepsis with povidone-iodine (PVP-I), the systemic absorption of iodine after cataract surgery was measured to evaluate the risk of thyroid side effects. Five different combinations of PVP-I alone or in combination with PVP-I-free antiseptics were applied to the conjunctiva and periorbital skin. An iodine-free product served as control. Iodide and creatinine in urine were analyzed before intervention and 24 and 48 h postoperatively. Depending on the concentration and application site, 0.3-4.5% of the total applied iodine or 3.6-45.4% of the free iodine were absorbed. The range of urine iodine excretion was between 11.7 and 71.0 mug iodine/g creatinine, depending on the PVP-I concentration and the site of application. The increase in iodine excretion was significant at 24 h postoperatively in trials receiving PVP-I both periorbitally and conjunctivally, depending of the concentration used. Because the iodine absorption is only slight and of doubtful clinical relevance, presurgical conjunctival antisepsis can be achieved with 1.25% PVP-I; so far clinically manifest anamnestic thyroid disorders are excluded. Presently, periorbital skin antisepsis with PVP-I cannot be recommended until data on thyroid metabolism in the population have been collected and evaluated, especially in a region currently or previously deficient in iodine.
Increasing international cooperation in the areas of research, teaching, trade and healthcare has called for standardization of the terminology. In disinfection and antisepsis such efforts have been pursued for almost 20 years but without great success. This contribution to the definition of antisepsis and its clear separation from disinfection is supposed to promote international discussion. German terms for skin, mucosa and wound antisepsis are proposed which permit to restrict the term disinfection to the application of antimicrobial measures to inanimate objects and surfaces.
OBJECTIVE: To determine whether antisepsis with povidone-iodine solution applied at the external urethral meatus confers protection against infective complications following transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and compare that with antibacterial prophylaxis. METHODS: A total of 167 patients with sterile urine undergoing TURP for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were prospectively randomized into three groups. Group A, had gauze soaked in saline applied at the urethral meatus (control group). In group B, the gauze was soaked in povidone-iodine instead of saline and group C had a single 1 g i.v. injection of cephradine at induction of anaesthesia with no treatment for the meatus. Bacteraemia, post-operative bacteriuria and other infective complications were compared in the three groups. Associations of bacteriuria at catheter removal and intra-operative bacteraemia with infective complications and with long term bacteriuria were also studied. RESULTS: Bacteriuria rate at catheter removal was not significantly different in the three groups. However, intraoperative bacteraemia and bacterial growth at the external urethral meatus was significantly lower in group C. Bacteriuria at catheter removal was significantly associated with bacterial growth at the meatus but not with long term bacteriuria at 3 months. Bacteriuria at catheter removal could not accurately predict infective complications. CONCLUSION: Post-TURP bacteriuria appears to be preceded by bacterial growth at the external urethral meatus. Antisepsis with povidone-iodine solution application at the meatus does not confer adequate protection against meatal bacterial growth as that obtained by prophylactic antibacterials. Nonetheless, neither antibacterial prophylaxis nor local antisepsis could reduce bacteriuria rate in this study.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of a new alcohol sprayer by comparing it with an individual bottle of alcohol. Patterns of use and perceptions among healthcare personnel were compared for the two products. DESIGN: Observational study recording the volume of alcohol used and the compliance rate (frequency of hand antisepsis per number of opportunities), and a survey of healthcare workers' perceptions of the different hand hygiene strategies. SETTING: A 20-bed medical unit in a public hospital in Marseille, France. PARTICIPANTS: Healthcare workers of an infectious disease unit INTERVENTIONS: Hand hygiene alcohol systems (sprayer vs individual bottle, 70% ethyl alcohol). RESULTS: The sprayer was used more frequently than the individual bottle (12.6 vs 9.7 hand washes per day). With the sprayer system, compliance was 91% for physicians, 28% for nurses, and 8% for housekeeping personnel. Alcohol hand antisepsis was preferred to washing hands with soap and water in low-risk situations such as simple entrance into a room (91% vs 36%; P < 10(-6)) or simple contact with a patient (69% vs 40; P < .005). The sprayer system was considered easier to use (95%), more hygienic (90%), and faster (92%), with a better tolerance than the individual bottle. CONCLUSION: The new alcohol sprayer should improve rapid hand antisepsis.
AIMS: To determine bacterial survival on human skin and their sensitivity to antisepsis. METHODS AND RESULTS: An 'ex vivo' protocol which uses human skin samples placed into diffusion cells, and electron microscopy (EM), were used to study the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa inoculated onto skin samples over a 46-h incubation period at 32 degrees C. Concurrently variation in skin pH was evaluated at different time intervals during this period. In addition the antimicrobial activity of three antiseptics against the incubated micro-organisms was assessed quantitatively with the 'ex vivo' test, while their detrimental effects against bacteria were observed by EM. All three bacteria were still present in high number after 46 h inoculation on skin, although the concentration of E. coli and S. aureus were reduced by 2.74 and 1.58 log(10) reduction, respectively, over this period of time. Electron micrographs showed clear evidence of cell division and some bacteria appeared to be embedded into the skin layers. The antiseptics tested had some antibacterial activity against bacteria incubated on skin for 3 and 10 h, and EM evidence showed some morphological damages including cellular blebbing and the presence of fibrillar material around the cells. All micro-organisms had an acidifying effect on skin samples. CONCLUSIONS: Here, it was shown that bacterial pathogens can survive and grow when incubated on human skin. In addition, it is possible that they can penetrate the stratum corneum, which can provide some protection against antisepsis. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The apparent low bactericidal activity of biocides attributed in part to bacterial protection from skin layers is particularly important to assess in order to ensure antisepsis efficacy.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of 0.3% stabilized glutaraldehyde and alcohol (SG+A), 0.3% SG and water (SG+W), and 4% chlorhexidine gluconate tincture (CG+A), as skin disinfectants in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, blinded clinical study. ANIMALS: One hundred and twenty-one dogs. METHODS: Cutaneous bacterial colony forming units (CFU) from the perioperative site after skin preparation, after antisepsis, and after surgery (incisional and paramedian), were quantified. The influence of high initial bacterial counts (> or =150 CFU) and surgical time on antibacterial efficacy was examined and the proportion of dogs from which Staphylococcus intermedius was cultured, determined. Perioperative skin reactions and wound infections were documented. RESULTS: All 3 antiseptic solutions significantly and equally reduced CFU to all post-antisepsis sampling levels irrespective of surgical duration (mean surgical times 151.6, 136.2, and 149.6 minutes for CG+A, SG+A and SG+W, respectively). Median percentage reductions in CFU ranged between 99.3% and 100%. In dogs with initial high counts and disinfected with CG+A and SG+W, the incisional samples had significantly higher counts than the post-antisepsis samples. In the CG+A and SG+W groups, the proportion of post-surgery samples yielding S. intermedius was significantly higher at the incisional than the paramedian sites. Eight mild cutaneous reactions were recorded in equal proportions for the 3 solutions. There were no recorded infections. CONCLUSIONS: All 3 preparations had an equal ability to reduce and maintain low CFU counts, with minimal cutaneous reactions. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: SG solutions are safe and effective preoperative skin antiseptics for elective clean-contaminated surgical procedures.
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether infectious morbidity after total abdominal hysterectomy is decreased by the addition of 20 cc povidone-iodine gel at the vaginal apex after the usual vaginal preparation with povidone-iodine solution. STUDY DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Fifteen secondary and tertiary hospitals in Canada. SAMPLE: A total of 1570 women undergoing planned total abdominal hysterectomy. METHODS: Computer-generated randomisation using a centralised telephone service was stratified by study centre with variable block size. In the operating room, a swab for bacterial vaginosis was taken before vaginal antisepsis. Study group remained concealed until the standard surgical preparation in the operating room was complete. Then povidone-iodine gel 20 cc was placed at the vaginal apex in the intervention group only. Participants were followed for one month post-operative. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was post-operative infectious morbidity during the 30 days after surgery, defined as: febrile morbidity with hospital stay greater than five days or antibiotic treatment, or infection requiring readmission to hospital or additional visit. Other outcomes included abdominal wound infection, pelvic abscess and other pelvic infections. RESULTS: Post-operative infectious morbidity within 30 days occurred in 128/780 (16%) women receiving povidone-iodine gel preparation and 142/790 (18%) women not receiving gel (RR 0.9, 95% CI 0.7 to 1.1). Pelvic abscess was diagnosed in 0 patients in the gel group and in seven patients in the control group (P < 0.01). No significant difference was found in pelvic cellulitis (eight in each group) or abdominal wound infection (51 in the gel group and 58 in the control group, P= 0.5). CONCLUSION: Povidone-iodine vaginal gel antisepsis led to a 9% relative decrease in overall infectious morbidity after abdominal hysterectomy, which was not statistically significant. Povidone-iodine vaginal gel decreased the risk of pelvic abscess after total abdominal hysterectomy.
In our Intensive Care Nursery, coagulase-negative staphylococcus is the most frequent blood culture isolate. As skin antisepsis is critical in preventing blood culture contamination, we examined the efficacy of the chlorhexidine tincture (CH) used in our nursery for this purpose. Staphylococcus epidermidis colonized the forearms of 88% of infants tested, in a mean density of 10(4) organisms/cm2. Following a 60-second application of CH (0.5% in 70% ethanol), bacterial growth from forearm skin remained abundant in 15/38 infants (39.4%). Cleansing with 70% isopropyl alcohol, followed by CH as above, left abundant residual growth in only 1/37 infants (2.7%) (P less than 0.001). All 136 S. epidermidis tested were susceptible to CH (MIC less than 5 micrograms/ml) and 14 of 15 exposed to CH 0.02% were rapidly killed (greater than or equal to 98% fall in viable counts within 90 sec). We conclude that two-phase antisepsis using isopropanol followed by CH is a more effective preparation for blood culture in neonates than is CH alone.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the frequency of skin irritation and dryness associated with using an alcoholic-hand-gel regimen for hand antisepsis versus using soap and water for hand washing. DESIGN: Prospective randomized trial with crossover design. Irritation and dryness of nurses' hands were evaluated by self-assessment and by visual assessment by a study nurse. Epidermal water content of the dorsal surface of nurses' hands was estimated by measuring electrical capacitance of the skin. SETTING: Miriam Hospital, a 200-bed university-affiliated teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty-two nurses working on three hospital wards participated in the trial, which lasted 6 weeks. RESULTS: Self-assessment scores of skin irritation and dryness decreased slightly during the 2 weeks when nurses used the alcoholic-hand-gel regimen (mean baseline score, 2.72; mean final score, 2.0; P=.08) but increased substantially during the 2 weeks when nurses used soap and water (mean baseline score, 2.0; mean final score, 4.8; P<.0001). Visual assessment scores by the study nurse of skin irritation and dryness did not change significantly when the alcoholic-hand-gel regimen was used (mean baseline and final scores were both 0.55), but scores increased substantially when nurses used soap and water (baseline score, 0.59; mean final score, 1.21; P=.05). Epidermal water content of the dorsal surface of nurses' hands changed little when the alcoholic-hand-gel regimen was used (mean+/-standard deviation baseline electrical capacitance reading, 24.8+/-6.8; mean final reading, 25.7+/-7.3), but decreased significantly (skin became dryer) with soap-and-water hand washing (mean baseline, 25.9+/-7.5; mean final reading, 20.5+/-5.4; P=.0003). CONCLUSIONS: Hand antisepsis with an alcoholic-hand-gel regimen was well tolerated and did not result in skin irritation and dryness of nurses' hands. In contrast, skin irritation and dryness increased significantly when nurses washed their hands with the unmedicated soap product available in the hospital. Newer alcoholic hand gels that are tolerated better than soap may be more acceptable to staff and may lead to improved hand-hygiene practices.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the adequacy of ordinary antisepsis in ultrasound (US)-guided free-hand fine-needle puncture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (n = 573) were performed in 456 patients. No puncture attachments, sterile gloves, or drapes or covers were used. Before each procedure the transducer was cleaned with a solution of water and 70% alcohol. No needles were contaminated. Patients were monitored for 5 days to exclude sepsis. Subsequently, the patients underwent follow-up blood and laboratory testing, including testing for for hepatitis B and C markers and human immunodeficiency virus antibodies, every 3 months for 6 months. The operators underwent the same follow-up for the first 6 months and for an additional 6 months. RESULTS: No patient or operator presented with fever or sepsis or with negative viral or hepatitis markers that became positive during follow-up. CONCLUSION: Use of this free-hand US-guided technique with ordinary antisepsis is safe for patients and operators, and it allows savings in time and the cost of materials.
An innovation often occurs in several arenas almost simultaneously, after being preceded by a long preparatory period when information and experience are accrued to the point at which opinion is influenced to change. Nevertheless, the introduction of an innovation is usually accompanied by resistance and hostility. This article traces the development of the concept and practice of antisepsis in health care, with emphasis on the contributions of three individuals who were contemporaries practicing in different health care fields, but who apparently were uninfluenced by each others' work. Semmelweis, a Hungarian obstetrician, recognized the importance of person-to-person transmission of infectious agents and effected dramatic reductions in puerperal mortality by requiring antiseptic handwashing. Lister, a Scottish surgeon, was the first physician to apply the germ theory to clinical practice and developed the techniques of antiseptic surgery and wound care, resulting in dramatic reductions in surgical mortality. Nightingale, a British nurse, initiated sanitary reforms in hospitals, schools, and military camps in England and abroad, incorporating high levels of environmental and personal hygiene. These reforms were also succeeded by dramatic reductions in mortality. In light of historical and current evidence of efficacy and the evidence of continued inadequacies in practice, it seems reasonable to speculate that further reductions in nosocomial infection rates are possible by a more careful application among individual practitioners of the basic principles of antisepsis.
The reduced incidence of wall abscesses following routine general surgery was studied in 4751 cases over the period from 1973 to 1987. The therapeutical evolution spanned over three consecutive treatment periods, each one falling into one patient group. The reference period (Group I) extended from 1973 to 1978. Starting from 1978 and up till 1984 (Group 2), systematic repeated lavage of the operative field with an iodized polyvinylpyrrolidone solution were carried out, providing thus for true continuous antisepsis (CA). Starting from 1985 (Group 3), the method of continuous antisepsis was associated with systematic prophylactic antibiotherapy (SPAB). Groups 1, 2 and 3 included 2051, 1955 and 745 cases, respectively, and presented progressively decreasing rates of abscess formation (4%, 2.5%, 1.7%, respectively). In order to better assess these results, an in-depth analysis was carried out on two types of surgical operations, i.e., appendicitis and gynecological surgery, based on Altemeier's classification. The rate of abscess formation was lowered. This result is particularly interesting from the point of view of gynecological surgery, inasmuch as a relative increase in the frequency of the more esthetic horizontal incisions is being concurrently noted.
Indications for antiseptic prophylaxis include use prior to urinary catheterization and other transurethral instrumentations, diagnostic or therapeutic instrumentation of the cavum uteri, and operations on the external genitalia and the vagina. Indications for antiseptic therapy include treatment of wounds and of infections of the genital tract and also include treatment of the vaginas of pregnant women to prevent infection in the newborn. For prophylactic antisepsis the aim is the optimal reduction of potentially pathogenic microorganisms. In some fields of application, e.g. before urinary catheterization, an immediate effect on the mucous membrane is required, but on other occasions, such as transvaginal operations, an additional sustained effect is desired. Testing the efficacy of mucous membrane antiseptics, especially for the genital tract, necessitates the establishment of standardized test methods. The variability in vaginal flora at various ages makes it reasonable to study women aged 20-50 years. Studies presented in this paper indicate that microorganism sampling using a cotton swab moistened with neutralizing fluid can be favoured compared to using a rinsing technique and that anaerobic culture techniques enable the measurement of the high reduction factors achieved by very efficient antiseptic procedures. Test methods validated for hand disinfectants are used for calculations and statistical evaluation. The antimicrobial efficacy of six vaginal antiseptic procedures were compared in patients prior to vaginal surgery. Three minutes after treatment, the highest mean reduction (log RF) of the normal vaginal flora as well as of potentially pathogenic microorganisms was obtained by povidone-iodine solution undiluted and povidone-iodine solution 1:10 (log RF 3.60 and 2.68, respectively). Out of three detergents with antimicrobial efficacy, octenidine 0.1% was the most effective preparation (log RF 2.32). Chlorhexidine 0.1%, hexetidine 0.1% and chlorhexidine 0.05% led to lower reduction factors (log RF 1.80, 1.62 and 1.02, respectively). After 30 minutes the log reduction factors were approximating each other in nearly all procedures (log RF 2.79-3.25) except the log RF derived from the procedure performed using chlorhexidine 0.05% (log RF 2.07). Povidone-iodine solutions seem to be the method of choice for mucous membrane antisepsis where an immediate effect is required. If a long period of action is needed all procedures examined, except chlorhexidine 0.05%, are acceptable.
A multicenter prospective, randomized, controlled trial, with 0.5% tincture of chlorhexidene versus 10% povidone-iodine as cutaneous antisepsis for central venous catheter (CVC) insertion, was conducted for patients in intensive care units. Of 374 patients, 242 had a CVC inserted for >3 days and were used for the primary analysis. Outcomes included catheter-related bacteremia, significant catheter colonization (> or = 15 colony-forming units [cfu]), exit-site infection, serial quantitative exit-site culture (every 72 h), and molecular subtyping of all isolates. Patients in both study groups were comparable with respect to age, sex, underlying disease, length of hospitalization, reason for line insertion, and baseline APACHE II score. Documented catheter-related bacteremia rates were 4.6 cases per 1000 catheter-days in the chlorhexidine group (n=125) and 4.1 cases per 1000 catheter-days in the povidone-iodine group (n=117; not significant [NS]). Significant catheter-tip colonization occurred in 24 (27%) of 88 patients in the povidone-iodine group and in 31 (34%) of 92 patients in the chlorhexidine group (NS). A mean exit-site colony count of 5.9 x 10(5) cfu/mL per 25 cm(2) of the surface area of skin in the povidone-iodine group versus 3.1 x 10(5) cfu/mL per 25 cm(2) in the chlorhexidine group (NS) was found. There was a trend toward fewer exit-site infections in the chlorhexidine group (0 of 125 patients) versus those in the povidone-iodine group (4 of 117 patients; P=.053). Results of an intention-to-treat analysis were unchanged from the primary analysis. No difference was demonstrable between 0.5% tincture of chlorhexidine and 10% povidone-iodine when used for cutaneous antisepsis for CVC insertion in patients in the intensive care unit.