Elaboration of antiseptical solution on the base of alcohols

Abstract

Introduction: Actually, it is proved that a large part of hospital infections are caused by poor hand hygiene. It is very important for hands to be clean and without pathogens, which can be achieved only by applying disinfectants. The WHO’s guidelines indicate that the best disinfectant for hands is the one which is based on alcohol, being more effectively against the agents of hospital infections and also it has a good compatibility with skin. Unfortunately, the most disinfectants that are used both in our country and abroad do not satisfy the requirements of effectiveness, harmlessness, ecology, etc. Studies showing the adequacy or inadequacy of hand cleansing by microbiological proof are few. From these few studies, it can be assumed that hands remain contaminated with the risk of transmitting organisms via hands. Their results showed that hand contamination with transient organisms was significantly less likely after the use of an alcohol-based hand rub compared with the medicated wipe or soap and water. From 52 disinfectants which are registered and approved in Republic of Moldova, only 4 of them are recommended and can be used for surgical disinfection of hands. For all of these, they are all imported and quite expensive. Due to all these, we propose to elaborate a local antiseptic solution for hands, based on ethanol and isopropanol with a fast action and a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. It also ensures an optimal pH for hands. The auxiliary substances which will be used will not irritate skin, even after a long use. Materials and methods: four solutions containing ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol in different reports; determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of these formulations against bacteria; the method of serial dilution in liquid nutrient medium (meat peptone broth 2%, pH = 7.0), liquid nutrient medium (broth Saturo). Results: The most alcohol-based hand antiseptics contain ethanol, isopropanol or n-propanol, or a combination of two of these products. Concentrations are given as either percentage of volume (= ml/100 ml, abbreviated % v/v), percentage of weight (= g/100 g, abbreviated % m/m), or percentage of eight/ volume (= g/100 ml, abbreviated % m/v). Antimicrobial activity was determined for four solutions with different concentrations of alcohol. The antimicrobial activity of alcohols results from their ability to denature proteins. Alcohol solutions containing 60-80% alcohol are most effective, with higher concentrations being less potent.This paradox results from the fact that proteins are not enatured easily in the absence of water. Alcohols have excellent in vitro germicidal activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative vegetative bacteria (including multi drug-resistant pathogens such as MRSA and VRE), M.tuberculosis, and a variety of fungi. Conclusions: The efficacy of alcohol-based hand hygiene products is affected by a number of factors including the type of alcohol used, concentration of alcohol, contact time, volume of alcohol used, and whether the hands are wet when the alcohol is applied.