Efficacy of two ethanol-based skin antiseptics on the forehead at shorter application times

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Recent research suggests that alcohol-based skin antiseptics exhibit their efficacy on the resident skin flora of the forehead in less than 10 minutes. That is why we have looked at the efficacy of two ethanol-based skin antiseptics applied for 10, 2.5 and 2 minutes on skin with a high density of sebaceous glands. Each experiment was performed in a reference-controlled cross-over design with at least 20 participants. Application of isopropanol (70%, v/v) for 10 minutes to the forehead served as the reference treatment. The clear (skin antiseptic A) and coloured preparations (skin antiseptic B) contain 85% ethanol (w/w). Pre-values and post-values (immediately after the application and after 30 min) were obtained by swabbing a marked area of 5 cm² for about 10 s. Swabs were vortexed in tryptic soy broth containing valid neutralizing agents. After serial dilution aliquots were spread on tryptic soy agar. Colonies were counted after incubation of plates at 36°C for 48 h. The mean log₁₀ reduction of bacteria was calculated. The Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test was used for a comparison of treatments.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Skin antiseptic A applied for 10 min was significantly more effective than the reference treatment. When applied for 2.5 min (three experiments) it was significantly more effective than the reference treatment immediately after application (2.7 versus 2.2 log₁₀ reduction; p < 0.001) and equally effective after 30 min (2.8 versus 2.6 log₁₀ reduction; p = 0.053). Skin antiseptic B applied for 2.5 min (three experiments) was significantly more effective than the reference treatment both immediately after application (2.3 versus 1.9 log₁₀ reduction; p < 0.001) and after 30 min (2.5 versus 2.1 log₁₀ reduction; p = 0.002).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The clear and coloured skin antiseptics applied for 2.5 min on the skin of the forehead fulfilled the efficacy requirements for skin antisepsis. The shorter application time on skin with a high density of sebaceous glands will allow to act more efficiently in clinical practice.</p

COVID-19 bei einer Großveranstaltung: Erfahrungen aus der Kieler Woche 2022

Im Juni 2022 fand die Kieler Woche ohne pandemiebedingte einschränkende Maßnahmen statt. Im Anschluss daran verdreifachte sich binnen weniger Tage die lokale Sieben-Tage-Inzidenz der SARS-CoV-2-Infektionen. Im selben Zeitraum war bei den COVID-19-bedingten Hospitalisierungen, schweren Erkrankungen und Todesfällen allenfalls ein schwacher Anstieg zu verzeichnen. Dagegen kam es aufgrund der Absonderungsmaßnahmen zu umfangreichen Personalausfällen unter anderem in Krankenhäusern sowie damit auch zu einem starken Rückgang der Anzahl der belegbaren Krankenhausbetten auf Normalstationen. Der Erfahrungsbericht fasst die verfügbaren, quantifizierbaren epidemiologischen Auswirkungen der Kieler Woche 2022 zusammen.Peer Reviewe

Hygiene guideline for the planning, installation, and operation of ventilation and air-conditioning systems in health-care settings – Guideline of the German Society for Hospital Hygiene (DGKH)

Since the publication of the first “Hospital Hygiene Guideline for the implementation and operation of air conditioning systems (HVAC systems) in hospitals” () in 2002, it was necessary due to the increase in knowledge, new regulations, improved air-conditioning systems and advanced test methods to revise the guideline. Based on the description of the basic features of ventilation concepts, its hygienic test and the usage-based requirements for ventilation, the DGKH section “Ventilation and air conditioning technology” attempts to provide answers for the major air quality issues in the planning, design and the hygienically safe operation of HVAC systems in rooms of health care

Antibiotic resistance: What is so special about multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria?

In the past years infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria have dramatically increased in all parts of the world. This consensus paper is based on presentations, subsequent discussions and an appraisal of current literature by a panel of international experts invited by the Rudolf Schülke Stiftung, Hamburg. It deals with the epidemiology and the inherent properties of Gram-negative bacteria, elucidating the patterns of the spread of antibiotic resistance, highlighting reservoirs as well as transmission pathways and risk factors for infection, mortality, treatment and prevention options as well as the consequences of their prevalence in livestock. Following a global, One Health approach and based on the evaluation of the existing knowledge about these pathogens, this paper gives recommendations for prevention and infection control measures as well as proposals for various target groups to tackle the threats posed by Gram-negative bacteria and prevent the spread and emergence of new antibiotic resistances