G. Kampf et al., EFFICACY OF ALCOHOLIC HAND DISINFECTANTS AGAINST METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS (MRSA), Chirurg, 68(3), 1997, pp. 264-268
In order to determine the efficacy of hand disinfectants based on alco
hol against three MRSA strains and 3 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus
strains (MSSA), 1-propanol (60%) as well as Sterillium and Spitaderm
were investigated in the quantitative suspension test at various dilut
ions and reactions times (15, 30 and 60 s). All undiluted disinfectant
s revealed reduction factors > 6 against MRSA and MSSA after 30 s. Dil
uted disinfectants (50 %) were significantly less effective against MR
SA at short reaction times (15s) (p < 0.05). Sterillium in a dilution
of 50 % did not reach 5 reduction factors against either MRSA or MSSA
after 30 a. The impact of an appropriate use of hand disinfectants in
order to break chains of infections with MRSA is obvious.