Effectiveness of handwashing with electrolyzed water and its comparison with several types of handwashing methods against bacteria on hands after nursing procedures

摘要

To examine the antibacterial effectiveness of handwashing with electrolyzed water (EW) when everyday nursing procedures are performed, the cleansing effectiveness of washing for 10s or 30s with EW, washing with 7.5 percent (w/v) povidone-iodine liquid (PI-washing), washing with medicated liquid soap (mls-washing), and washing with non-antiseptic, plain liquid soap (Is-washing) was compared. When the bacterial counts from hands after nursing procedures were 10~3cfu/hand or greater, it was suggestedthat washing for 10s or 30s with EW could be expected to have the same level of washing effectiveness as that for mls-washing or Is-washing. Compared to PI-washing, however, the survival ratios were higher. When the bacterial counts from hands were lessthan 10~3cfu/hand after nursing procedures, washing for 10s or 30s with EW was more effective than Is-washing. Furthermore, EW could keep the bacterial counts from hands as low as those after PI-washing. Based on the above results, washing with EW was aseffective as mls-washing, and though slightly less effective than PI-washing, it was considered that the same level of effectiveness seen with PI-washing could be expected for relatively lightly contaminated hands after daily nursing procedures.