Cleansing Effectiveness of Electrolyzed Water Depending on the Nursing Procedure and Degree of Hand Contamination

We examined the antibacterial effectiveness of handwashing with electrolyzed water (EW) depending on the type of nursing procedure and differences in the degree of bacterial contamination on hands after the procedure. With respect to the bacteria on the hands after diapering (relatively heavy contamination), changing positions (relatively light contamination), and endotracheal aspiration (light contamination), handwashing for 10s and 30s with EW lowered the hand bacterial counts after handwashing to the same level as or lower than that before the procedures. Washing with EW was as effective as washing with medicated liquid soap and 7.5% (w/v) povidone-iodine liquid. Based on these results, we considered that handwashing for 10s with EW could be applied to any of the procedures that require direct contact with the patient's skin (diapering) or clothing (changing positions), as well as the procedures involving no direct contact with the patient (endotracheal aspiration). Furthermore, effective washing could be expected in a short period of time, with no rising of resident bacteria to the surface of the hand.