Abstract
Aim of the study: To compare alcohol-based handrub solutions and standard surgical scrub in preoperative hand disinfection.Methods: Single center, blinded, controlled study performed over a period of 4 weeks in the Ibn Al Haithem hospital. Surgeons, seniors and residents (with more than 2 years of experience) volunteered for inclusion in this study by taking their fingerprints on blood agar before and after hand disinfection.The two methods of disinfection were the following:A: Alcohol-based handrub with sterillium. The solution is applied to the hands for 1.5 min and then left to dry. The fingertips and thumb prints are then taken on blood agar plates.B: The hands are washed with soap and water using a gentle brush for 5 min and then left to dry.The fingertips and thumbprints are then taken on blood agar plates.Results: One hundred samples were collected twice. Fifty volunteers were in each group, and samples were collected before and after washing the hands.The mean reduction in colony counts was 104.6 (P 0.001) in the standard scrub group.Conclusion: In preoperative hand disinfection, alcohol-based handrub significantly reduces the bacterial colony counts compared with standard surgical scrub.
Highlights
Endophthalmitis is a serious medical condition with a high morbidity rate
In preoperative hand disinfection, alcohol-based handrub significantly reduces the bacterial colony counts compared with standard surgical scrub
Each day before performing any surgeries, the study participants had their fingertips and thumbprints taken on blood agar plates; the volunteer blindly selected a sealed blank envelope enclosing a paper with either letter A or B indicating the structured protocol for preoperative hand disinfection
Summary
Endophthalmitis is a serious medical condition with a high morbidity rate. The source of infection usually cannot be identified with certainty. The flora of the eyelids and conjunctiva are the most frequent infection source, including contamination via incisions in the early postoperative stages. Other potential infection sources include contaminated solutions and instruments, environmental air and the surgeon and the other operating room personnel. Because the skin cannot be sterilized, it must be properly prepared [1]. Despite significant advances in glove manufacturing techniques and developments in surgical instrument design, glove perforation rates have been reported to be as high as 17%, which emphasizes the importance of good hand antisepsis [2]
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