Surgical hand antisepsis in veterinary practice: evaluation of soap scrubs and alcohol based rub techniques

Recent evidence shows hydro-alcoholic solutions are more efficient than traditional medicinated soaps in the presurgical hand antisepsis of human surgeons. However, little veterinary literature is available on the subject. The aims of this study were to compare the efficiency of medicinated soaps and a hydro-alcoholic solution prior to surgery using an in use testing method in a veterinary setting. A preliminary trial was performed that compared the mean Log10 number of bacterial colony forming units (CFU) and the reduction factors (RF) between 2 five-minute hand-scrubbing sessions using different soaps (povidone iodine (PVP) and chlorhexidine gluconate (CHX)) and the 1.5-min application of a hydro-alcoholic rub (Sterillium). A clinical in use trial comparing mean log10 number of bacterial CFU’s and RF for Sterillium and CHX soap was performed in a surgical set-up. Sampling was performed using finger printing on agar plates. Sterillium and CHX had a similar immediate effect, although the sustained effect was significantly better for Sterillium. PVP showed a significantly lower immediate and sustained effect. Sterillium showed good efficiency in the clinical trial. This study shows that, as previously reported for human medicine, Sterillium can safely be considered as an attractive alternative method for surgical hand antisepsis in a veterinary surgical setting.