Logo image
Back
The effect of an acidic cleanser versus soap on the skin pH and micro-flora of adult patients: a non-randomised two group crossover study in an intensive care unit
Journal article   Peer reviewed

The effect of an acidic cleanser versus soap on the skin pH and micro-flora of adult patients: a non-randomised two group crossover study in an intensive care unit

C.N. Duncan, T.V. Riley, K.C. Carson, C.A. Budgeon and J. Siffleet
Intensive & Critical Care Nursing, Vol.29(5), pp.291-296
10/2013
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iccn.2013.03.005
url
Link to Published Version *Subscription may be requiredView

Abstract

Bacterial colonisation Hygiene Intensive care ICU Skin integrity Skin pH Soap
OBJECTIVES To test the effects of two different cleansing regimens on skin surface pH and micro-flora, in adult patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Forty-three patients were recruited from a 23-bed tertiary medical/surgical ICU. The nineteen patients in Group One were washed using soap for daily hygiene care over a four week period. In Group 2, 24 patients were washing daily using an acidic liquid cleanser (pH 5.5) over a second four week period. Skin pH measurements and bacterial swabs were sampled daily from each for a maximum of ten days or until discharged from the ICU. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Skin surface pH and quantitative skin cultures (colony forming units). FINDINGS Skin pH measurements were lower in patients washed with pH 5.5 cleanser than those washed with soap. This was statistically significant for both the forearm (p = 0.0068) and leg (p = 0.0015). The bacterial count was not statistically significantly different between the two groups. Both groups demonstrated that bacterial counts were significantly affected by the length of stay in ICU (p = 0.0032). CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that the product used in routine skin care significantly affects the skin pH of ICU patients, but not the bacterial colonisation. Bacterial colonisation of the skin increases with length of stay.

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#3 Good Health and Well-Being

Source: InCites

Metrics

69 Record Views
24 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Citation topics
2 Chemistry
2.176 Drug Delivery Chemistry
2.176.771 Transdermal Delivery
Web Of Science research areas
Critical Care Medicine
Nursing
ESI research areas
Clinical Medicine
Logo image