Efficacy of Silver Nanoparticle Gel on Bacterial Hand Flora: A RCT
Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the antimicrobial efficacy of a silver nanoparticle gel versus an alcohol-based hand gel versus a combo gel in reducing transient bacterial counts isolated from hands seeded with S. marcescens. Design: A randomized-controlled, double-blinded, 3-group (alcohol-based gel vs. silver nanoparticle gel vs. combination gel) design. Methods: Qualified subjects began participating in a 7-day washout period prior to hand sampling. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two conditions: immediate or persistent. Baseline bacterial samples were obtained from artificially seeded hands using a modified glove juice technique. For the immediate condition, sampling of the surrogate marker microbes was taken after 1 minute of the gel application using the same procedure as in the baseline sampling. Participants in the persistent condition received the assigned gel first. After 30 minutes, the participant s hands were inoculated with the transient marker. Sampling was completed using the same glove juice procedure as before. After decontaminating subject s hands, a 4-item questionnaire on gel acceptability was completed. Sample: Fifty-five individuals were recruited from the Fort Sam Houston, TX campus. Analysis: Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and/or other appropriate normality tests were used for data analysis. Findings: For the immediate efficacy, test revealed a statistical significant difference between the alcohol-based gel and the silver nanoparticle gel (p=0.009 0.003) and a trend towards significance between the alcohol-based hand gel and the combination gel. The analysis found no statistical significant difference (p=0.33) between the gels for persistent efficacy. User acceptability was more favorable for the alcohol-based gel group.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 20, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA619045
Entities
People
- Michael L. Schlicher
Organizations
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine