Removal of bacteria in soiled hands

What is it about?

Food handlers have been identified as important sources of contamination in the agricultural environment. This study evaluated 1) the antimicrobial activity of antimicrobial-containing soaps against Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis using a handwashing model with soiled hands and 2) determined the survival and persistence of bacteria in rinsates. Sterilized agricultural soil from tomato and pepper farms was inoculated with 103 or 106 CFU/g of E. coli or E. faecalis. Previously decontaminated hands were placed in contact with contaminated soil for 2 min, and were then washed with soaps with or without antimicrobial compounds (citric extracts, chloroxylenol, triclosan, or chlorhexidine gluconate). As the control, hands were washed with sterile distilled water. The amounts of bacteria remaining on the hands and bacteria in the rinsates were measured using a membrane filtration method and selective media. Antimicrobial soaps removed similar amounts of E. coli as distilled water and non-antimicrobial soap in hands contaminated with 103 CFU/g of E. coli. However, when hands were contaminated with 106 CFU/g of E. coli, more E. coli was removed with the chlorhexidine gluconate-containing soap. When hands were contaminated with 103 CFU/g of E. faecalis, bacteria were removed more effectively with soaps containing chloroxylenol or chlorhexidine gluconate. When hands were contaminated with 106 CFU/g of E. faecalis, all of the antimicrobial soaps were more effective in removing the bacteria than distilled water or non-antimicrobial soap. E. coli grew in all of the handwashing rinsates except the rinsate containing triclosan, whereas E. faecalis from the 106 CFU/g treatments grew in rinsates containing chlorhexidine gluconate and in the distilled water rinsates. This study demonstrated that washing with antimicrobial soap reduced bacteria on soiled hands when compared with handwashing with water or non-antimicrobial soap. In addition, persistence or growth of bacteria in rinsates poses health risks.

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Why is it important?

To analyze the efficacy of handwashing with antimicrobial soaps to reduce indicator bacteria on soiled hands and to evaluate the survival and persistence of indicator bacteria in rinsates

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