Survival of Gram-Negative Bacilli and Candida Albicans in Hexachlorophene Preparations and Other Disinfectants

Abstract

Dispensers of a detergent containing hexachlorophene were found to be heavily contaminated with several different gram-negative bacilli. Further investigations showed unopened stock containers to be contaminated with up to 3.9 mill. bacteria per ml. Some of the isolated strains were shown to multiply in the disinfectant, but the resistance against the preparation was lost during passage through broth cultures. Gram-negative bacilli isolated from infected patients and from the hands of personnel using hexachlorophene preparations were inoculated in various antiseptic preparations for hand-washing, and the survival time was examined. The hexachlorophene preparations differed in their ability to kill the gram-negative bacilli. The addition of preservatives active against gram-negative bacilli reduced the survival time. The preparations also differed in their ability to kill Candida albicans. The necessity of sterility control of antiseptic hand-washing preparations and of regular disinfection of the dispensers is stressed.