A Comparison of 5-Minute Povidone-Iodine Scrub and 1-Minute Povidone-iodine Scrub followed by Alcohol Foam

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if a 1-minute scrub with povidone-iodine followed by alcohol foam is as effective as a 5-minute scrub with povidone-iodine in reducing skin bacterial counts. A 1-minute scrub with povidone-iodine followed by alcohol foam and a 5-minute scrub with povidone-iodine was done. In the first study, cultures were obtained after 1 hour, and in the second study, cultures were obtained after 2 hours. Cultures were obtained by imprinting the first, second, and third fingers on nutrient agar plates. Bacterial counts were then obtained at 24 and 48 hours. The study involved two groups of 12 participants and a total of 37 patients over a period of 5 months. The results show that there was no significant difference between the number of colonies cultured for the 1-minute scrub compared with the 5-minute scrub for either the 1-hour or the 2-hour study. In fact, the total number of bacterial colonies was less after the 1-minute scrub with alcohol foam than after the standard 5-minute scrub in both the 1-hour group (10 vs. 18) and the 2-hour group (18 vs. 44).

Surgical Hand Scrub Practices In Orthopaedic Surgery

“…17 The duration of surgical hand scrubs and hand rubbing has been studied extensively and recommendations range from 2 minutes to 10 minutes for traditional scrub methods and even less duration with use of surgical foams or aqueous alcoholic solutions. 4,5,7,11,[13][14][15][16] The optimum duration for a surgical scrub has not been determined and there are no available data that show a statistically significant difference between the duration of a surgical hand scrub and incidence of postoperative surgical site infections.…”

Effect of an Evidence-Based Hand Washing Policy on Hand Washing Rates and False-Positive Coagulase Negative Staphylococcus Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid Culture Rates in a Level III NICU

“…Although these cultures would be reassuring that the hand washing technique was effective, we felt that the evidence showing decreased hand carriage of pathogens after proper hand washing in the literature was convincing. 19,21,33 The cost of surface cultures is substantial and we believed that demonstration of an effect on superficial colonization would have no clear implications regarding patient outcomes or management. Finally, secular trends or new care practices could be responsible for changes in outcomes when historical controls are used.…”

Comparison of Different Regimens for Surgical Hand Preparation

“…Only recently have alcohol products been tested in this country for degerming hands of surgical staff members. Researchers reported no difference between a five‐minute povidone‐iodine scrub and a one‐minute scrub followed by alcohol foam 16 . Ethanol has been shown to be superior for killing superficial skin flora.…”