Comparison of the hand disinfectant effects between super hypochlorous water and 7.5% povidone-iodine

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the hand disinfectant effects between super hypochlorous water and 7.5% povidone-iodine. Subjects included thirty pediatric dentists. They first watched the educational videotape for hand disinfection. They then pressed their right five fingers on Brain Heart Infusion (BHI) agars. They disinfected their hands under running super hypochlorous water until they considered to be enough clean, removed the excess water using a paper towel and again pressed their fingers on the BHI agars. Furthermore, the individual disinfectant time was measured. The agars were incubated at 37°C for 48 h, the colonies counted and calculated as logarithmic values. The same procedures were performed using 75% povidoneiodine two months later. As results, the following observations were shown. The disinfectant effects of super hypochlorous water were significantly more effective than that of 7.5% povidone-iodine. There was no correlation between disinfectant effects of both disinfectants and the hand disinfecting times.