Efficacy of novel antimicrobial gloves impregnated with antiseptic dyes in preventing the adherence of multidrug-resistant nosocomial pathogens

• Published in: American journal of infection control 2009-05, Vol.37 (4), p.294-300
• Main Authors: Reitzel, Ruth A., BS, Dvorak, Tanya L., BS, Hachem, Ray Y., MD, Fang, Xiang, MS, Jiang, Ying, MS, Raad, Issam, MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Infective Agents, Local - pharmacology; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiseptics; Bacteria; Bacteria - drug effects; Bacterial Adhesion - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Chlorhexidine - pharmacology; Disease transmission; Drug resistance; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial - drug effects; Epidemiology. Vaccinations; General aspects; Gloves; Gloves, Surgical; Hospitals; Human infectious diseases. Experimental studies and models; Humans; Infection Control; Infection Control - methods; Infectious Disease; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Nosocomial infections; Pathogenesis; Pharmacology. Drug treatments
• ISSN: 0196-6553; 1527-3296
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2008.07.003

Background Contaminated gloves are a major source of transmission of bacteria in the hospital and food industry. We investigated the efficacy of gloves impregnated with a combination of antiseptics consisting of brilliant green dye and chlorhexidine (Gardine). Methods Gardine-coated and uncoated 1-cm2 segments of latex examination and nitrile examination gloves (Spontex, Columbia, TN) were exposed to 1.5 × 108 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci , multidrug resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli , MDR- Acinetobacter baumannii , or Candida albicans as indicated by our brief exposure method. At least 3 glove segments were tested in each group, and growth was scored as mean CFU/cm2 . Segments were dried for various time periods (30 seconds, 10 minutes, 30 minutes, and 1 hour) and streaked face down on agar plates. Plates were incubated overnight at 37°C, and growth was quantitated. Results Gardine-coated latex and nitrile gloves showed significant reduction, an average of 6 logs and 5 logs, respectively, within 30 seconds or 10 minutes when tested against MRSA, vancomycin-resistant enterococci , MDR- E coli , MDR- Acientobacter , and C albicans . Complete kill, 8-log reduction, was seen within 30 seconds for MRSA and E coli in both Gardine-coated latex and nitrile gloves. Conclusion Gloves impregnated with Gardine antiseptic dye were highly efficacious in preventing contamination of nosocomial-resistant pathogens on the outer surface of glove and may be useful in the food industry or clinical setting.