Efficacy of a silicone urinary catheter impregnated with chlorhexidine and triclosan against colonization with Proteus mirabilis and other uropathogens.

We sought to develop an infection-resistant urinary catheter. We evaluated 3 types of catheters for their efficacy against uropathogens in an in vitro model of the urinary tract. The catheter impregnated with chlorhexidine and triclosan suppressed the growth of uropathogens, including Proteus mirabilis, for 20-30 days or longer.

Evaluation of an alcohol-based surgical hand disinfectant containing a synergistic combination of farnesol and benzethonium chloride for immediate and persistent activity against resident hand flora of volunteers and with a novel in vitro pig skin model.

Objective: To evaluate the immediate, persistent and sustained in vivo activity of an alcohol-based surgical hand disinfectant, consisting of a zinc gel and a preservative system containing a synergistic combination of farnesol and benzethonium chloride (ZBF disinfectant), and to develop a pig skin model for in vitro evaluation of the immediate and persistent efficacy of alcohol-based surgical hand disinfectants against resident hand flora.

Design: The in vivo immediate, persistent, and sustained activity of ZBF disinfectant was evaluated using human volunteers and the "glove-juice" method described in the US Food and Drug Administration's Tentative Final Monograph (FDA-TFM) for Healthcare Antiseptic Products. A novel in vitro pig skin model was developed to compare the immediate and persistent activity of alcohol-based surgical hand disinfectants against resident flora using Staphylococcus epidermidis as the test organism.

Efficacy of an alcohol-based healthcare hand rub containing synergistic combination of farnesol and benzethonium chloride.

Healthcare workers are required to disinfect the hands several times a day using hand disinfectants, which leads to chronic hand exposure to high levels of antimicrobials contained in the disinfectants, which could compromise the skin integrity. This problem may be addressed by developing hand disinfectants containing synergistic combinations of small amounts of antimicrobials and other agents. The synergistic effect of farnesol and essential oils with several antimicrobials was studied in vitro to select an effective antimicrobial system in preservative concentration for use in healthcare hand rub.

A topical cream containing a zinc gel (allergy guard) as a prophylactic against latex glove-related contact dermatitis.

Background: Many health care workers are sensitized to the proteins in natural rubber latex and get contact dermatitis as a result of wearing latex gloves.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate a topical formulation containing a zinc gel (Allergy Guard) as a prophylactic against latex glove-related contact dermatitis.

Methods: The study was carried out with volunteers who exhibited mild to moderate contact dermatitis (type IV) after wearing latex gloves as per the protocol.

Comparison of microbial adherence to antiseptic and antibiotic central venous catheters using a novel agar subcutaneous infection model.

An agar subcutaneous infection model (agar model), which simulates the rat subcutaneous infection model (rat model), was developed to assess the ability of antimicrobial catheters to resist microbial colonization. The catheters were implanted in the agar and rat models and the insertion sites were infected immediately or on day 7, 14 or 21 post-implantation. The catheters implanted in the agar model were transferred to fresh media one day before infection on day 7, 14 or 21.

Evaluation of the antimicrobial efficacy of urinary catheters impregnated with antiseptics in an in vitro urinary tract model.

Objectives: To evaluate the long-term efficacy of urinary Foley catheters (latex and silicone) impregnated with (1) chlorhexidine and silver sulfadiazine (CXS) and (2) chlorhexidine, silver sulfadiazine, and triclosan (CXST) in inhibiting extra-luminal bacterial adherence and to compare their efficacy with that of silver hydrogel latex (SH) and nitrofurazone-treated silicone (NF) catheters.

Design: The antimicrobial spectrum of these catheters was evaluated using a zone of inhibition assay. A novel in vitro urinary tract model was developed to study the potential in vivo efficacy of antimicrobial catheters in preventing extraluminal bacterial colonization.