XXXX skin as test substrate for evaluating topical antimicrobial activity.

@entity1707 @entity167 @entity4313 @entity20856 @entity5723 @entity1068
The feasibility of using pathogen-contaminated @entity1707 skin as a model substrate for evaluating skin disinfectants was demonstrated. A test methodology is described that is safe, convenient to use, and adaptable to a variety of hand-washing conditions. The treatment protocol, pathogen contamination conditions, and application technique variables can all be carefully controlled to simulate clinical use conditions. The number of organisms transferred by contact was compared with the total organism count on the @entity1707 skin. The quantity of organisms transferred ranged from 10 to 60% of the total organisms, depending on the nature of the contamination conditions. The cumulative results of multiple imprint and stripping measurements were consistent with the concentration of inoculated organisms. Tests with @entity167 solutions validated the methodology and clearly showed the dependence of topical antimicrobial activity on both the concentration and structure of the @entity167 . Activity increased with increasing @entity167 concentration and in the following order: @entity1068 , @entity5723 , and @entity20856 . All of the @entity4313 became less active as the severity of the test conditions was increased, i.e., higher inoculum levels for a longer incubation time before treatment. The contact imprint and stripping methods used to evaluate bacterial growth on the skin clearly showed that the @entity167 treatments reduced but did not eliminate the inoculated pathogens. It was found that long lifetimes (several hours) for pathogens on the skin are possible under some environmental conditions. This observation strongly suggests that frequent hand washing is a necessary infection control practice even when opportunities for repeated pathogen contamination have not occurred.
