Effect on Skin Microflora in Hygienic Bathing of Patients with Chlorhexidine Gluconate Disinfectant and Non-Rinse Product

Abstract

Objective: The skin is one of the largest reservoirs of microorganisms (MO) in the human body, some of which are potential agents of Health care-associated infections (HAIs). The purpose of the present study is to provide a comparative microbiological analysis of the skin surface in patients before and after the application of the dry-bath method with an antiseptic agent-chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and with non-rinsing detergents. The method is innovative for the Republic of Bulgaria and has not been imposed and has not yet been implemented as a routine practice in hospitals. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the bacterial contamination of the skin after a second day of hospital stay and the need to use agents containing sanitary disinfectant for patients. Methods: Methods based on bacterial culture using swabs were used. These are one of the most commonly used methods for isolating and identifying aerobic and optional anaerobic MO that are part of the skin flora. Results: The following bacteria were isolated in the microbiological examination of the skin surface: Coagulasenegative methicillin sensitive staphylococci (CNMSS), Coagulasenegative methicillin resistant staphylococci (CNMRS), Enterococcus, Methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA), Bacillus spp, Gram/-/bacteria, Streptococcus α-hem, Corynebacterium. Conclusion: The present studies demonstrate a significant decrease in microbial flora after CHG administration and a slight to no effect after applying non-rinsing detergents. The research team's recommendations are to apply products with CHG from nurse for hygiene of patients by the method of dry bathing at risk of HAIs.