Exploring Antibiotic Resistance with Hospital-Grade Hand Sanitizers

Overview

Approximately 1.7 million patients contract healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) each year and approximately 90,000 people die from them. Hand hygiene is the most effective way to reduce HAIs. Compliance with hand hygiene standards among medical personnel is only 26% due mainly to lack of time. One of the biggest risks for HAIs is antibiotic resistance. The purposes are: 1) to compare the effectiveness of two hospital grade hand sanitizers, Avagard (1% chlorhexidine and 61% ethyl alcohol) and Steris Cal Stat Plus (63% isopropyl alcohol) and 2) to determine if these hand sanitizers induce antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli. The hypotheses are: 1) Avagard will be more effective because its two agents will work synergistically and 2) resistance can be induced because antibiotic resistance can be acquired through genetic mutation. Serial dilutions of the sanitizers were cultured with each species to determine minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC). Kirby Bauer tests were performed. At the lowest volume percent tested, 0.3%, Avagard was bactericidal to both species. The MIC for Cal Stat Plus was 10% for E. coli and 0.6% for S. epidermidis. Compared to Cal Stat Plus, Avagard had greater than 97% decrease in MIC for E. coli and 50% decrease for S. epidermidis. The zones of inhibition with ampicillin for S. epidermidis increased with exposure to Cal Stat Plus. They increased further with secondary dosing. The average zones of inhibition for E. coli exposed to Cal Stat Plus with ampicillin and erythromycin increased by 17.5% and 23% respectively.

Competition history

• AJAS 2018 Category not listed

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