Effect of rheological properties on the antimicrobial activity of isopropyl alcohol

Abstract

Gels are one of the most comprehensive forms of hand hygiene antiseptics. Alcohol-based gels are used in many hospitals around the world for hand antisepsis. The main reason for using antiseptics in gel form is the reduction of skin irritation and dryness and the ease of use (no spillage as quickly as liquid antiseptics when tilting or tipping the bottle). However, gels take longer to dry than other forms, depending on the consistency of the gel. The change in consistency (rheology) has a significant effect on the rate of alcohol evaporation and therefore determines the contact time of the active ingredient with the skin. Since it is believed that the main contribution to antimicrobial activity is made by the active ingredient, and the other components are considered inert, in this work we tested model skin antiseptics based on isopropyl alcohol with different viscosity to evaluate the effectiveness of antiseptics in hand hygiene treatment was carried out in vivo on volunteers. The results obtained do not allow us to unambiguously interpret the effect of viscosity on antimicrobial activity, since up to a gel-former concentration of 1.5?% we observed a decrease in efficacy, and at a concentration of 2?% we observed a concentration higher than that for the aqueous solution of isopropyl alcohol. It follows from our findings that the issue of the influence of viscosity on the antimicrobial activity of skin antiseptics should be studied during disinfectological examination. Keywords: skin antiseptics, gels, rheological properties, hospital-acquired infection.