In vitro ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF GEL ALCOHOL 70% AGAINST HOSPITAL AND COMMUNITY BACTERIA

Abstract

The use of gel alcohol in hands antisepsis procedures represents a frequent practice in health institutions. Thus, we decided to determine the in vitro antibacterial activity of gel alcohol 70% used at Clinical Hospital of Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto – USP against hospital and community bacteria by means of dripping and well technique. Hospital bacteria were: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while community bacteria were: S. aureus and Staphylococcus coagulase-negative. The gel alcohol demonstrated antimicrobial activity by means of the dripping technique against all bacteria studied, but with the well technique no effect was observed. In conclusion, before using any substance or product against microorganisms it is necessary to evaluate previously its effectiveness with adjusted microbiological techniques or methods.