Survey the effect of alcohol on surgical scrub

Introduction: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the common complications in postoperative period. SSI is induced with microorganisms that spread by surgeon, assistant and etc. Surgical scrub could reduce colony count of hands. This reduction can reduce the potential of SSI. Disinfection solutions are one of most important in scrub efficacy. These solutions have specific advantage and disadvantage. It seems that compound solutions have more efficacy in compared with each of these solutions alone. This study was designed to survey the effect of betaine and alcohol compound in surgical scrub. Materials and Methods: With approval of the ethics committee of the medical university, 40 volunteers including surgeons, operating room technicians, nurses, resident and operating room students were selected. Scrub with each of these solution was performed in one, three and five minutes. Each volunteers scrubbed with povidone iodine 7.5% alone or a compound solution of povidone iodine and alcohol in a duration of 1, 3 and 5 minutes. They selected one of the 6 methods randomly. In first day, scrub sampling were taken on blood agar nutrient plates using the finger impression (dominant hand) technique before, immediately after and 30 minutes after scrub. The plates were then labeled and transported to a separate laboratory. The sample plates were incubated for 24-48 hours at 37Oc temperature. Colony forming units and the type of bacteria on sample plates were then recorded. Results: Results showed that most of bacteria were Staph. Saprophyticus, Staph. Epidermis, Micrococcus spp., Bacilus spp. Scrub with betadine or betadine and alcohol compound in each of 1, 3 and 5 minute duration, could reduce hand colony counts effectively. This reduction was continued until 30 minutes after scrub. Conclusion: Both applied methods in this study, betadine alone and betadine and alcohol compound, had equal effects on scrub. Given the drying and irritation effecst of alcohols on skin, we recommend to use of betadin alone for scrub.