Description

This is a randomised clinical trial with a Latin-square crossover design, to test the effectiveness of the Sorbectol solution in surgical hand preparation, according to the EN 12791 standard, at application times of 1, 3 or 5 minutes. The test compares the bacterial load on the hands of at least 23 healthy volunteers immediately (immediate effect) and three hours after (3-hour effect) application of the test product with respect to the reference product, RP, of EN 12791 (n-propanol 60%).

Briefly: The bacterial load on hands before antisepsis (pre-values) is obtained after the preparatory handwash using a diluted soft soap. Next, surgical hand antisepsis protocols are performed. Enrolled participants are randomly divided into four groups of the same size to receive RP or Sorbectol for 1 min (P1), 3 min (P2) or 5 min (P3) in parallel in a first run. The test is repeated in a second, third and fourth run changing the antisepsis roles for each group. A washout period of at least 2 weeks between experimental runs allow for the reconstitution of skin microbiota. All participants complete the four antiseptic procedures at the end of the trial.

The RP group, rub their hands with n-propanol (60% v/v) for 3 min. The test product groups, rub their hands with Sorbectol for 1 or 3 or 5 min. In all cases applying as many 3 ml portions as necessary to keep the hands moist for the selected time. After antisepsis the bacterial load (post-values) is determined using a split-hands model. One hand to assess the bacterial load immediately after treatment (immediate post-values) and the other hand to assess the bacterial load 3 hours later, keeping the hand gloved in the meantime (3-h post-values).