Comparative study of effectiveness of different germicidal hand washing agents in clinical and paraclinical health care personnel

Abstract

Objective: This comparative, prospective study was conducted to estimate the effectiveness of five different germicidal hand washing agents and to obtain comparative data among clinical and paraclinical personnel.Methods: Five different hand washing agents were compared. Pre and post swabs were collected and cultured aerobically. Percentage reduction in colony counts was obtained and compared between different hand-washing agents and clinical and paraclinical personnelResults: Sixty nine (22 (31.88%) males; 47 (68.11%) females) health care personnel who fulfilled the intake criteria were included in study. Of these, 32 (4 (12.5%) males; 28 (87.5%) females) were clinical personnel and 37 (18 (48.64%) males; 19 (51.3%) females) were paraclinical personnel. The mean age of the participants was 30 years (SD: 11.3 years; range: 18-56 years). There was a significant difference (Z = ?2; p?0.05) in colony forming units (CFUs) after application of each agent on bare hands, in both groups. The reduction CFUs was significant (p=0.190196; <0.05) with use of Povidone iodine scrub.Conclusion: Povidone-iodine scrub is most effective agent amongst all tested. Bactericidal efficacy of all the agents was superior among paraclinical personnel.