Abstract

CRUZ, R et al. In vitro evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of a hand gel with copper nanomolecules. Rev. argent. dermatol. [online]. 2017, vol.98, n.1, pp.46-54. ISSN 1851-300X.

Introduction: in the last few years the use of copper has been proposed as an alternative for reducing HAIs. Objective: to assess in vitro antimicrobial activity of a gel with copper nanomolecules on strains of Candida albicans , C. parapsilosis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enteroccus faecalis ,  Escherichia coli and Pseudomona aeruginosa. Materials and Methods: in vitro experimental study. Reference strains (ATCC) were seeded in growth medium and then four disks of sterile gauze impregnated with gel copper, chlorhexidine, gel alcohol and distilled water were placed in the culture. Halos were measured at 24, 48 hours and 7 days. Anova test and Tukey HSD test were used to statistical analysis. Results: for C. albicans and C. parapsilosis copper gel provided an inhibition at 24, 48 hours and 7 days, being higher than chlorhexidine (p <0.001) in the case of C. albicans. For S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa copper gel showed a lower halo (p <0.001) than chlorhexidine at 16 and 24 hours, however there was no inhibition at 48 hrs or 7 days. In E. faecalis no inhibition halo was found at any time. Conclusions: the copper gel showed in vitro activity for C. albicans and C. parapsilosis up to 7 days. Presented  activity on S. aureus, E. coli and P. aeruginosa up to 24 hrs. It did not show antimicrobial activity against E. faecalis.

Keywords : gel; copper; antimicrobial activity.