COMPARISON OF THE IMMEDIATE, RESIDUAL, AND CUMULATIVE ANTIBACTERIAL EFFECTS OF NOVADERM-R, NOVASCRUB-R, BETADINE SURGICAL SCRUB, HIBICLENS,AND LIQUID SOAP

Background: Triclosan (Irgasan), an antibacterial active against staph ylococci and coliform bacteria, has been formulated for use as a handw ash. There has been only one previous report of the use of the glove j uice test to determine the immediate, residual, and cumulative effects of a 1% triclosan-based handwash product. There have been no previous studies on the use of 1% triclosan combined with povidone-iodine (PI) in a handwash product. Methods: The glove juice technique was used to document and compare the immediate, 3-hour residual, and 5-day cumula tive effects on the mean log(10) bacterial counts of 1% triclosan-base d handwash product and 1% triclosan with 5% PI. A standardized surgica l handwashing technique was used before sample collection. These resul ts and the identity and type of the aerobic bacteria cultured from the samples were compared with the results of standardized washing and gl ove juice sampling with 4% weight/volume chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) , 7.5% PI, and a nonantimicrobial liquid soap. Results: All five teste d products showed significant log(10) reduction from baseline on day 1 , hour 0 (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the m ean log,, bacterial count when 7.5% PI, 4% CHG, and 1% triclosan with 5% PI were compared with each other immediately after washing (p > 0.0 5). There was a significant difference between 1% triclosan and the li quid soap when they were each compared with 4% CHG, 7.5% PI, and 1% tr iclosan with 5% PI. There was no statistically significant difference between the 1% triclosan product and the liquid soap (p > 0.20). All p roducts were effective at reducing the immediate bacterial count from the baseline level. All formulations except the liquid soap showed sig nificant cumulative effect (p < 0.05) after multiple washes, with no s ignificant difference between the cumulative effects of the liquid soa p and 1% triclosan (p > 0.05). Both products differed significantly (p < 0.05) from the CHG, PI, and triclosan with PI. CHG, PI, and triclos an with PI showed effects significantly different from each other (p < 0.05).