Virucidal efficacy of soap and water against human immunodeficiency virus in genital secretions.
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A common bar soap and tap water solution was able to demonstrate a 30-fold human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) inactivation and a 57 to 87% reduction in viable peripheral blood mononuclear cells in a mixture of cervicovaginal lavage fluid and seminal fluid. These observations indicate that soap and water might be used to inactivate HIV and HIV-infected cells in genital secretions. (+info)
Efficacy of organic acids in hand cleansers for prevention of rhinovirus infections.
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Direct hand-to-hand contact is an important mechanism of transmission of rhinovirus infection. The rhinoviruses are inactivated at a low pH. A survey of organic acids in vitro revealed that these compounds have antirhinoviral activity that persists for at least 3 h after application to the skin. In additional studies of salicylic acid (SA) and pyroglutamic acid (PGA), the hands of volunteers were contaminated with rhinovirus at defined times after application of the acid, and then volunteers attempted to inoculate the nasal mucosa with one hand and quantitative viral cultures were done on the other hand. In one study, 3.5% SA or 1% SA with 3.5% PGA was compared with controls 15 min after application to assess the efficacy of the inactivation of virus and prevention of infection. Virus was recovered from the hands of 28 out of 31 (90%) of the volunteers in the control group compared to 4 out of 27 (15%) and 0 out of 27 in the groups administered 3.5 and 1% SA, respectively (P < 0.05). Rhinovirus infection occurred in 10 out of 31 (32%) of the controls and 2 out of 27 (7%) of volunteers in both treatment groups (P < 0.05 compared with control). In a second study, the efficacy of 4% PGA was evaluated 15 min, 1 h, and 3 h after application. Significantly fewer volunteers had positive hand cultures at all time points compared with the control group, but the proportion that developed rhinovirus infection was not significantly reduced. These results suggest the feasibility of the prevention of rhinovirus transmission by hand treatments that are virucidal on contact and have activity that persists after application. (+info)
A comparison of an antimicrobial wound cleanser to normal saline in reduction of bioburden and its effect on wound healing.
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Microbial bioburden in both acute and chronic wounds is an important factor in wound healing. Consequently, the reduction of bioburden to host-manageable levels, as well as the elimination of certain virulent forms of wound pathogens (regardless of their number), has become a goal of the wound care professional. A prospective, controlled clinical study using accepted sampling methods was conducted to compare the use of an antimicrobial wound cleanser (0.057% sodium hypochlorite in an isotonic saline solution) to normal saline on the reduction of bioburden and wound size. During the 2-month study, 100% of the wounds cleansed with the antimicrobial wound cleanser (n = 9) demonstrated aerobic bioburden reduction from baseline in a range from 1 to 4 logs per wound, while 56% of the wounds cleansed with normal saline (n = 9) showed an increase in aerobic bioburden levels. The proportion of wounds exhibiting a reduction in wound size was higher in the antimicrobial wound cleanser group than in the saline group. Further research to increase understanding of the relationship between wound bioburden, healing, and cleansing agents is needed. (+info)
Delayed effectiveness of home-based interventions in reducing childhood diarrhea, Karachi, Pakistan.
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We introduced home drinking water disinfection and handwashing with soap in Karachi squatter settlements to evaluate their effect on diarrhea. In April 2000, 150 households received soap, 76 received dilute bleach and a water storage vessel, and 76 were enrolled as controls. In 2000, among households wealthy enough to own a refrigerator, children in households that received bleach and a vessel had a 73% lower incidence of diarrhea than controls; those that received soap had a 56% lower incidence. There was no reduction in diarrhea in intervention households without a refrigerator. In 2001, households that received bleach and a vessel had a 71% lower incidence of diarrhea and children in households that received soap had a 35% lower incidence than controls. In 2001, the interventions were equally effective in households that had a refrigerator and those that did not. Both of these home-based interventions were ultimately effective in preventing diarrhea, but only households of slightly higher socioeconomic status changed their behavior quickly enough to benefit during the first summer. (+info)
Regular use of a hand cream can attenuate skin dryness and roughness caused by frequent hand washing.
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BACKGROUND: Aim of the study was to determine the effect of the regular use of a hand cream after washing hands on skin hydration and skin roughness. METHODS: Twenty-five subjects washed hands and forearms with a neutral soap four times per day, for 2 minutes each time, for a total of two weeks. One part of them used a hand cream after each hand wash, the others did not (cross over design after a wash out period of two weeks). Skin roughness and skin hydration were determined on the forearms on days 2, 7, 9 and 14. For skin roughness, twelve silicon imprint per subject and time point were taken from the stratum corneum and assessed with a 3D skin analyzer for depth of the skin relief. For skin hydration, five measurements per subject and time point were taken with a corneometer. RESULTS: Washing hands lead to a gradual increase of skin roughness from 100 (baseline) to a maximum of 108.5 after 9 days. Use of a hand cream after each hand wash entailed a decrease of skin roughness which the lowest means after 2 (94.5) and 14 days (94.8). Skin hydration was gradually decreased after washing hands from 79 (baseline) to 65.5 after 14 days. The hand wash, followed by use of a hand cream, still decreased skin hydration after 2 days (76.1). Over the next 12 days, however, skin hydration did not change significantly (75.6 after 14 days). CONCLUSION: Repetitive and frequent hand washing increases skin dryness and roughness. Use of a hand cream immediately after each hand wash can confine both skin dryness and skin roughness. Regular use of skin care preparations should therefore help to prevent both dry and rough skin among healthcare workers in clinical practice. (+info)
Comparison of a waterless hand-hygiene preparation and soap-and-water hand washing to reduce coliforms on hands in animal exhibit settings.
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Outbreaks of enteric disease associated with exposure to live animals on exhibit have occurred with increasing frequency in recent years. Possibly the most important pathogen causing such outbreaks is Escherichia coli O157:H7, because of the serious illness it can cause. Hand hygiene is consistently protective against disease among persons exposed to animals implicated in these outbreaks. Livestock barns have limited hand-washing facilities, therefore a waterless hand-sanitizing gel would be a potentially preventive measure readily available to visitors and animal exhibitors. This study compared the reduction of bacterial counts on hands of animal exhibitors when soap and water was used or when an ethanol-based hand gel was used after animal handling. Participants were youth and adults involved with showing livestock. The sanitation methods were similar in reducing the total bacteria and coliform counts on the hands of the participants (Wilcoxon rank sum test P values 0.12 and 0.69 respectively). (+info)
Topical applications of chlorhexidine to the umbilical cord for prevention of omphalitis and neonatal mortality in southern Nepal: a community-based, cluster-randomised trial.
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BACKGROUND: Omphalitis contributes to neonatal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Umbilical cord cleansing with antiseptics might reduce infection and mortality risk, but has not been rigorously investigated. METHODS: In our community-based, cluster-randomised trial, 413 communities in Sarlahi, Nepal, were randomly assigned to one of three cord-care regimens. 4934 infants were assigned to 4.0% chlorhexidine, 5107 to cleansing with soap and water, and 5082 to dry cord care. In intervention clusters, the newborn cord was cleansed in the home on days 1-4, 6, 8, and 10. In all clusters, the cord was examined for signs of infection (pus, redness, or swelling) on these visits and in follow-up visits on days 12, 14, 21, and 28. Incidence of omphalitis was defined under three sign-based algorithms, with increasing severity. Infant vital status was recorded for 28 completed days. The primary outcomes were incidence of neonatal omphalitis and neonatal mortality. Analysis was by intention-to-treat. This trial is registered with , number NCT00109616. FINDINGS: Frequency of omphalitis by all three definitions was reduced significantly in the chlorhexidine group. Severe omphalitis in chlorhexidine clusters was reduced by 75% (incidence rate ratio 0.25, 95% CI 0.12-0.53; 13 infections/4839 neonatal periods) compared with dry cord-care clusters (52/4930). Neonatal mortality was 24% lower in the chlorhexidine group (relative risk 0.76 [95% CI 0.55-1.04]) than in the dry cord care group. In infants enrolled within the first 24 h, mortality was significantly reduced by 34% in the chlorhexidine group (0.66 [0.46-0.95]). Soap and water did not reduce infection or mortality risk. INTERPRETATION: Recommendations for dry cord care should be reconsidered on the basis of these findings that early antisepsis with chlorhexidine of the umbilical cord reduces local cord infections and overall neonatal mortality. (+info)
Combining drinking water treatment and hand washing for diarrhoea prevention, a cluster randomised controlled trial.
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OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of point of use water treatment with flocculent-disinfectant on reducing diarrhoea and the additional benefit of promoting hand washing with soap. METHODS: The study was conducted in squatter settlements of Karachi, Pakistan, where diarrhoea is a leading cause of childhood death. Interventions were randomly assigned to 47 neighbourhoods. Households in 10 neighbourhoods received diluted bleach and a water vessel; nine neighbourhoods received soap and were encouraged to wash hands; nine neighbourhoods received flocculent-disinfectant water treatment and a water vessel; 10 neighbourhoods received disinfectant-disinfectant water treatment and soap and were encouraged to wash hands; and nine neighbourhoods were followed as controls. Field workers visited households at least once a week from April to December 2003 to promote use of the interventions and to collect data on diarrhoea. RESULTS: Study participants in control neighbourhoods had diarrhoea on 5.2% of days. Compared to controls, participants living in intervention neighbourhoods had a lower prevalence of diarrhoea: 55% (95% CI 17%, 80%) lower in bleach and water vessel neighbourhoods, 51% (95% CI 12%, 76%) lower in hand washing promotion with soap neighbourhoods, 64% lower (95% CI 29%, 90%) in disinfectant-disinfectant neighbourhoods, and 55% (95% CI 18%, 80%) lower in disinfectant-disinfectant plus hand washing with soap neighbourhoods. CONCLUSIONS: With an intense community-based intervention and supplies provided free of cost, each of the home-based interventions significantly reduced diarrhoea. There was no benefit by combining hand washing promotion with water treatment. (+info)