An Antiseptic Foam Improves Hand Hygiene Compliance

The Avagard Foam instant hand antiseptic (62% w/w ethyl alcohol) has demonstrated rapid in vitro bactericidal activity against a broad range of organisms tested, including antibiotic resistant strains such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE). The antiseptic foam is safe for repeat use and is compatible with latex and synthetic non-latex gloves, including nitrile, neoprene, polyisoprene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It is also compatible with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG). The foam antiseptic is latex-free, dye-free, preservative-free, paraben-free, and fragrance-free, and does not contain gel-thickening agents that can clog dispensers or leave gel residue on hands after the alcohol has evaporated. Avagard Foam is a product of 3M Health Care (St. Paul, MN, USA).

"The addition of Avagard Foam expands 3M's Avagard line of hand hygiene products, offering medical professionals a rapid and effective antimicrobial solution with moisturizers,” said DeAnn Hammer, market development manager at 3M Health Care. "As proper hand hygiene is critical to minimizing the risk of healthcare-acquired infections, Avagard Foam should play a key role in the healthcare setting.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA), good hand hygiene compliance has been shown to reduce spreading of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and to reduce infection rates. In addition, lack of proper hand hygiene remains one of the top sources of hospital-acquired infections in the United States.


Related Links:
3M Health Care
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention