Comparison of the antimicrobial efficacy of povidone-iodine, povidone-iodine-ethanol and chlorhexidine gluconate-ethanol surgical scrubs

Background: Scrubbing of the hands and forearms with a brush and antiseptic agents has been the standard for surgical practice. However, it has been increasingly recognized that brush scrubbing may provoke side effects and that an alcohol-based hand antiseptic used in conjunction with a scrub agent enhances the effectiveness. In this study, two types of alcohol-based agents were used after a povidone-iodine (PVP-I) scrub and compared for their effectiveness. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted as a crossover trial with 20 volunteers. After hand rubbing with PVP-I, either PVP-I-ethanol rubbing or chlorhexidine gluconate-ethanol (CHG-ethanol) rubbing was used for surgical hand cleansing. Samples were collected by the modified glove juice method to count bacteria on hands. Results: In both groups, the bacterial count was significantly reduced after handwashing (p < 0.001), and the reduction was still significant after 2 h (p < 0.001 for PVP-I-ethanol and p < 0.002 for CHG-ethanol). The log(10) reduction factor (RF) in the PVP-I-ethanol group was significantly higher than that in the CHG-ethanol group immediately after handwashing (p < 0.001) but significantly lowered after 2 h (p < 0.01) to the level similar to that of CHG-ethanol. Although RF was lower in the CHG-ethanol group immediately after and 2 h after handwashing compared to the PVP-I-ethanol group, it did not decrease with time. Conclusion: Brushless surgical scrubbing with PVP-I-ethanol or CHG-ethanol in conjunction with PVP-I showed antiseptic effects immediately after and 2 h after handwashing. RF immediately after handwashing was significantly higher with PVP-I-ethanol compared to CHG-ethanol, but it was similar in both groups after 2 h. These results suggest that when used in combination with a PVP-I scrub, an alcohol-based hand antiseptic containing the same active agent (PVP-I in this study) has a powerful antiseptic effect; however, when it contains different antiseptic agents (i.e. CHG in this study), it should be selected carefully based on its antiseptic property. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.