Abstract
Evaluation of a handwash can be made by various methods. The effect of handwashing and disinfectants was evaluated by scrubbing of the hands and forea1ms with soap and a brush before and after the application of a disinfectant, and by quantitatively determining the viable counts of microo1ganisms which fell off into the water in the basin. The disinfectants studied were 4% chlorhexidine detergent, 10% benzethonium chloride, and 7.5% povidone-iodine, as well as 70% and 90% ethanol and 50% isopropanol. Some other preparations were also examined. With chlorhexidine detergent, benzethonium, or povidone-iodine, no significant bacterial reduction was obtained by only a single 2-min brushing, but by two 3-min brushings, reduction of 87.8% to 94.5% was obtained. When a further treatment was tested in which the hands and forearms we1e thoroughly rubbed with 0.5% chlorhexidine in 90% ethanol or 0.5% benzethonium chloride in ethanol solution, which was taken on the palms, following the above 6-min brushing, significant bacterial reduction of 99% or more was obtained in a short pe1iod of time.
Small pinholes develop in surgical gloves during the course of surgical operation, a t the finger tip of the gloves in most cases. Experimental pinholes were made in gloves, and the degree of transfer of bacteria from the skin of the hand was examined. After brushing of the hands and forearms with an effective disinfectant, the bacterial count transferring from the hand was markedly small.
