Summary of Available Infection Control Hand Wash Studies
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Comparison of an Automated Handwash to a Manual Handwash – This study evaluated the performance of Meritech’s automated handcleansing system to a manual handwash using Serratia marcescens as a marker organism, and a 4% Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) antimicrobial agent. The transient microorganism log10 reduction by Meritech’s automated system was measured at 3.80, which equated to a reduction of 99.95%. The results clearly substantiate the persistent effect (increasing efficacy over time) of CHG.
Healthcare Personnel Formulation Evaluation – This test was designed to study the immediate antimicrobial effectiveness of transient microorganism removal during Meritech’s wash cycle using Serratia marcescens as a marker organism. The results showed a reduction of 99.3% after just one wash.
Comparison of a Manual Handwash to an Automated System – This study compared Meritech’s automated handcleansing system to a 30-second manual handwash using Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG). The results from both the manual and the automated handcleansing system demonstrated a statistically equivalent 99.9% reduction in transient microorganisms. The persistence of CHG was demonstrated with increasing reductions with repeated hand washes.
Determination of Microorganism Reduction with Chlorhexidine Gluconate – This study was designed to test the efficacy of Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) on transient microorganisms during a standard automated wash using one of Meritech’s systems. The transient microorganism reduction was measured at 99.88%.
Two Phase Handwash Evaluation Using Two Different Concentrations of CHG – The purpose of this study was to determine and rate the antimicrobial efficacy of several handwash configurations using CHG 2% and CHG 4%, testing against serratia marcescens as the marker organism. The results show that CHG 4% clearly outperformed CHG 2%, with CHG 4% resulting in a 3.64 log reduction, equating to a percent reduction of 99.93%. CHG’s persistence was clearly evident once again.
Determination, Comparison, and Evaluation of Antimicrobial Efficacy of Nine Handwash Configurations – This test was designed to study the efficacy of nine different handwash configurations in Meritech’s automated handcleansing system using Serratia marcesens as a marker organism. The percent pathogen reductions ranged from a low of 99.41% to a high of 99.98%. The increasing efficacy over time due to CHG’s persistence was substantiated.
Antimicrobial Efficacy Determination – This study evaluated the efficacy of five different handwash configurations. The results showed Meritech’s CleanTech system provided a 99.15% reduction in transient microorganisms.
“All five product configurations demonstrated statistically significant log10 reductions in bacterial populations. The manual wash and the standard CleanTech wash with CHG were statistically equivalent in degerming effectiveness.”
Pilot Determination of Handwash Configurations – The study was designed to test the efficacy of the Meritech automated handcleansing system. Results show that E. coli was reduced by 99.17% after just one wash.