The efficacy of surgical scrubs in reducing hand bacterial flora

Objective The objective of our study was to compare the efficacy of five different surgical scrubbing agents (plain soap, antiseptic soap, 4% chlorhexidine, 7.5% povidone iodine and a commercial preparation of alcohol hand rub) in reducing the hand bacterial flora in two operation theatres in the Colombo South Teaching Hospital before and immediately after scrubbing. Design A comparative study. Setting Two operation theatres of the Colombo South Teaching Hospital. Participants Ten members of theatre staff who regularly operate or assist. Methods Hand scrubbing with the respective agent/rubbing with alcohol by all participants on different days. On each occasion imprints of fingertips and palm of the dominant hand was taken immediately before and after hand hygiene procedure. The bacterial colony .counts were taken after overnight incubation. The mean percentage reduction of colony counts was taken as the efficacy indicator. Statistical analysis was done by paired t test. Results Highest reduction of colony counts was by alcohol hand rub and it was significandy better than plain soap, antiseptic soap and povidone iodine (P 0.05). Conclusions Hand rubbing with alcohol and scrubbing with 4% chlorhexidine effectively reduced hand bacterial flora and they are superior to hand washing with plain soap and antiseptic soap. There is no added advantage in substituting antiseptic soap for plain soap in order to reduce bacterial burden in hands.