Seven different surgical hand-scrub agents (one triclosan compound, two
hexachlorophene compounds, and four iodophors) were evaluated under in-use
conditions by five persons for efficacy in degerming the hands and forearms
prior to performing a total of 215 total hip arthroplasties. With all of
the compounds tested there was a significant reduction (p less than or
equal to 0.001) of indigenous skin microflora from prescrub levels at both
the post-scrub and postoperative points. The two hexachlorophene compounds
in general revealed a bacteriostatic effect whereas the triclosan compound
and the four iodophors did not. A hexachlorophene compound applied as a
foam demonstrated excellent bacteriocidal and bacteriostatic action, was
less time-consuming and easier to use than compounds applied as scrubs, and
did not alter a low (0.47 per cent) in-use infection rate over a period of
three years.