Equine Skin Antisepsis Using an Alcohol-Based Rub.
Abstract: Alcohol-based antisepsis has been extensively studied in human health care, but only little information is available regarding efficacy and tolerance in other species. The purpose of this study was to determine if an alcohol-based antiseptic is effective at reducing bacterial counts on equine skin and the appropriate contact time to do so, without causing any adverse skin reactions. Samples were collected before and after preparation from clipped sites over both jugular veins of horses and were plated on 3M Petrifilm Aerobic Count Plates in duplicate. Trial 1 tested an alcohol-based product (ET-80% ethanol) against a control of sterile saline at a contact time of 180-second. Trial 2 tested two different contact times of ET-90 and 180 seconds. All samples were assessed for colony-forming unit counts using an automated 3M Petrifilm reader. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test, and the significance was set at P < .05. The results determined that ET had a mean 2.95 log10 reduction from prepreparation to postpreparation colony-forming unit counts. A significant difference in log reduction between ET and control (P = .0033) was observed. There was no difference in log10 reduction between the two contact times (P = .75). Mild urticaria was the only skin reaction observed and was often present in both ET and control groups. These findings demonstrate that ET is effective at reducing bacterial counts on equine skin at a contact time of 90 seconds without producing significant adverse skin reaction.
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2019-07-05 PubMed ID: 31443836DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.06.004Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article discusses the effectiveness of an alcohol-based antiseptic in reducing bacterial counts on horse skin, with no harmful skin reactions. It studied the suitable contact time and compared its efficacy with a sterile saline solution.
Objectives and Methodology
- The primary purpose of this study was to find out if an alcohol-based antiseptic can effectively reduce bacterial quantities on horse skin and the optimal contact time without causing any adverse skin consequences.
- Samples were collected from horses before and after treatment. The horses’ skin was clipped over both jugular veins for this purpose.
- These samples were then plated on 3M Petrifilm Aerobic Count Plates in duplicates.
- The study was divided into two phases. The first phase compared the alcohol-based product ET-80% ethanol against a control of sterile saline at a contact time of 180 seconds. In the second phase, two different contact times of ET-90 and 180 seconds were tested.
- The colony-forming unit counts were evaluated using an automated 3M Petrifilm reader. A Kruskal-Wallis test was then used to analyze the data, with the significance set at P < .05.
Key Findings
- The results indicated a significant reduction in bacterial colony-forming unit counts from the pre-treatment to post-treatment phases.
- Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference (P = .0033) in this reduction when comparing the alcohol-based antiseptic and the control. This finding demonstrated that the alcohol-based antiseptic was more effective at reducing bacteria.
- The study also found no difference in efficacy based on varying contact times (90 seconds vs. 180 seconds).
- The only observed skin reaction was a mild urticaria (skin rash). Furthermore, this reaction was generally present in both the alcohol-based antiseptic and control groups, indicating it wasn’t significantly caused by the antiseptic.
Conclusion
- The use of alcohol-based antiseptic (ET) has been found to be effective in reducing bacterial counts on horse skin.
- The research showed that a contact duration of 90 seconds was suitable to achieve this without causing substantial adverse skin reactions.
Cite This Article
APA
Doyle AJ, Saab ME, Lewis K, McClure JT.
(2019).
Equine Skin Antisepsis Using an Alcohol-Based Rub.
J Equine Vet Sci, 80, 61-63.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2019.06.004 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward, Canada. Electronic address: ajdoyle@upei.ca.
- Department of Diagnostic Services, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward, Canada.
- Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward, Canada.
- Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- 2-Propanol
- Animals
- Anti-Infective Agents, Local
- Antisepsis
- Ethanol
- Horses
- Humans
- Skin
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Ryu SH, Forbes E, Kim BS, Park KT. Injection site abscesses associated with commensal and environmental bacteria following intramuscular vaccination in horses. Vet Anim Sci 2025 Sep;29:100484.
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