Alcohol in gel is as effective as chlorhexidine in the reduction of microbiota on hands in hospital nurses

Abstract

Context: Alcohol gel (70% ethanol, AG) and 2% chlorhexidine foam (CF) are hand antiseptics recommended by the World Health Organization. Although both are effective, it is unclear if one is superior to the other in a hospital setting. Aims: To evaluate the disinfectant ability comparing AG and CF by analyzing microbial reduction on the hands of nursing staff from two hospitals in Northern Peru. Methods: The nursing staff was randomly assigned to the AG and CF treatment groups. Before and after antisepsis, samples were taken by inserting the hands into a sterile self-closing bag containing peptone water. A sample of the liquid medium was plated on agar and used to calculate the CFU/mL of the peptone water. Participant data was analyzed in aggregate or according to hospital, profession, or service. Results: Both AG and CF were significantly effective in reducing CFU/mL. In aggregate, CFU/mL reduction was 80.9% for AG and 91.3% for CF, but the difference was not statistically significant. However, a small statistically significant difference in favor of CF was observed in the surgical center of both hospitals. These results are confirmed with multivariate analysis. Conclusions: AG and CF are both effective in hand antisepsis, but other factors are important when deciding which agent is appropriate for a specific healthcare setting.