Evaluation of activity and potential for development of antimicrobial resistance to a new tinted 2% chlorhexidine gluconate/70% isopropyl alcohol film-forming sterile preoperative skin preparation

Skin- and Eco-Friendly Hand Sanitizer: A Novel Composition of Natural Extracts to Prevent the Spread of Respiratory Viruses

Respiratory diseases caused by viruses are a serious global health threat. Although the use of hand sanitizers containing alcohol and synthetic antiseptic agents is recognized as an effective, simple, and low-cost measure to combat viral transmission, they can harm human health and the environment. Thus, this work aimed to study the efficacy of combining Camellia sinensis and Chamomilla recutita extracts in a skin- and eco-friendly leave-on hand sanitizer to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. An oil-in-water emulsion containing C. recutita oily extract (5.0%), C. recutita glycolic extract (0.2%) and C. sinensis glycolic extract (5.0%) showed virucidal activity against HAdV-2 (respiratory virus) and two surrogate viruses of SARS-CoV-2 (HSV-1 and MVH-3), showing great potential to prevent the spread of respiratory viruses. These natural extracts combined are also promising to combat a broad spectrum of other viruses, in the form of antiseptic mouthwashes or throat sprays, surface disinfectants, and veterinary products, among others. Complementally, the developed hand sanitizer demonstrated efficacy against bacteria and fungus.

Operative efficiency: comparison of methods to optimize the use of chlorhexidine gluconate applicators

BACKGROUND

With the high costs of operating room time, minimizing potential causes of time waste is financially beneficial to surgeons and hospitals. The time needed to activate a chlorhexidine gluconate surgical solution applicator presents an opportunity for optimization. Many techniques are employed to expedite the process, but there have been no studies comparing these techniques.

AIM

To determine the most efficient method for utilizing a chlorhexidine gluconate surgical prep applicator.

METHODS

Six techniques were tested to determine which caused the sponge of a Chloraprep™ applicator to become saturated quickest. These were a single squeeze (control), up-and-down shaking, side-to-side shaking, pressing the sponge on a surface (dab), pressing with cotton swabs (poke), and continuously squeezing the lever of the applicator. The time between the internal glass breaking in the applicator to the time of sponge saturation with solution was measured for each technique. Times were then compared to determine which technique best expedited the process.

FINDINGS

The side-to-side shake, up-and-down shake, and 'dab' techniques were each significantly faster than the control group. Side-to-side shaking had the fastest time to sponge saturation on average. The average difference in time to saturation between the side-to-side shake technique and the 'poke' technique may be as much as 27.5 s.

CONCLUSIONS

Utilization of the side-to-side shake technique, as well as the up-and-down shake and 'dab' techniques, significantly expedite the time it takes to use a chlorhexidine gluconate applicator. The time savings from employing these techniques could result in significant financial benefits.

Experimental study on the effects of different disinfectants in preventing pin-site infection after using Ilizarov circular external fixators

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of different disinfectants in preventing pin-site infection. A total of 32 healthy New Zealand white rabbits were selected as the research subjects. The rabbits were placed in an Ilizarov 3/4 circular external fixator for a period of time after feeding. They were then divided into four groups of eight animals each. After surgery, pin-site nursing was performed twice a day with a different disinfectant for each group (chlorhexidine gluconate alcohol disinfectant, Maokang iodine, 75% alcohol and physiological saline). Each pin site’s surrounding conditions were visually observed daily, and bacterial culture of the pin-site secretions was promptly performed. The changes of C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell upon the first day, first week, second week, fourth week, and sixth week after the operation were compared, as were infection statuses and morphological changes in the surrounding tissue at the sixth week post operation. The differences in the CRP and white blood cell values and infection rates among the four groups were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05), but the difference in infection levels among the four groups was not statistically significant (P>0.05). In addition, the difference in the pathologically inflammatory cells among the four groups at the sixth week post operation was statistically significant (P < 0.05).It was concluded that the effect of chlorhexidine gluconate alcohol disinfectant in preventing pin-site infection was superior compared to the other three disinfectants.

Wistar rat dermis recellularization

Skin lesions are normal to all species, regardless of gender or age. The skin, the largest organ of the body, has function as a primary barrier to the chemical, physical and biological aggressions of the environment. In animals, these lesions may be due to fights and/or predations, also as in humans, there is a very common cause of dermal lesions that are caused by burns and carcinomas. Looking for new techniques of tissue bioengineering, studies have been shown promising results for formulations of acellular biological scaffolds from tissue decellularization for the reconstitution of these lesions. The decellularization has its proof by a varied range of tests such as scanning electron microscopy and residual genomic DNA tests. Subsequently the tissue can go through the process of recellularization using cells of interest, even the animal that will receive this tissue, reducing the risks of rejection and improving the response to tissue transplantation. Thus, this manuscript aimed at the decellularization of the tissue with the use of chemical and physical means followed by sterilization and the establishment of a protocol for the recellularization of a decellularized scaffold from the Wistar rat dermis using murine fibroblasts and mesenchymal stem cells from canine adipose tissue for 7 days. After efficacy tests, the tissue recellularization were confirmed by immunofluorescence assays and scanning electron microscopy where the adherence of the cells in the biological scaffold was observed.