Effectiveness of Preoperative Surgical Scrubbing Using Clorhexidine Digluconate and Parachlorometaxylenol (ECP)

Effectiveness of Preoperative Surgical Scrubbing in Reducing Bacterial Load, Using Chlorhexidine Digluconate (CHX) and Parachlorometaxylenol (PCMX)

Despite the wide variety of products and antiseptic agents, no agent is ideal for every situation. The investigators would like to evaluate the difference in reducing bacterial load, using 4% chlorhexidine digluconate and 3% parachlorometaxylenol after a preoperative surgical scrubbing.

The investigators conducted a controlled, prospective, randomized study to evaluate the antiseptic effectiveness of preoperative surgical scrubbing using 4% chlorhexidine digluconate and 3% parachlorometaxylenol. Samples were taken from the hands of each volunteer after a preparatory handwash, pre-surgical scrubbing, post-surgical scrubbing and 3 hours after surgical scrubbing.

Inclusion Criteria:

• No systemic diseases.
• Healthy skin on hands, without cuts or abrasions.
• Short and clean fingernails.
• No use of substances with antimicrobial action (e.g. medicated soaps or creams).

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of eczema.
• History of psoriasis.
• Allergies to any of the ingredients of the solutions or contraindication to its use.