IV administration and tracheostomy care in the home.

reducing the bacterial level on skin, it does not eliminate all resident bacterial microflora on the skin, thus one-way pressure for the proliferation of a competing organism does not exist. Furthermore, many experts agree that normal dry skin is not a hospitable environment for the survival of gram-negative species. Long-term studies m e a s u r i n g t h e c o n s e q u e n c e s of exposure to triclosan, through frequent use of handwash products, failed to generate evidence that gram-negative bacteria would colonize and proliferate on the skin of the test subjects. 5 " 7 In May 1982, Ciba-Geigy received notification from the Division of OTC Drug Evaluation, Office of Drugs recommending that the status for use of triclosan in surgical scrubs, personnel health care handwashes, and patient p r e-o p e r a t i v e p r e p a r a t i o n s be changed from a not approved (Category 11) to a conditional approval (Category III) (W. Gilberston, personal communication, 1982). Since receiving this notification, Ciba-Geigy has generated (and submitted to the FDA) additional data to support our position t h a t t r i c l o s a n is safe a n d efficacious for use in the clinical environment 4,8 (Cox AR, unpublished data, 1981). The antimicrobial effectiveness of a topically applied product is a function of the total formulation rather than a single ingredient. Based on the facts we have presented, it is clear that the conclusions of Barry et al are unsubstantiated. REFERENCES 1. Irgasan DP 300 product bulletin. CIBA-GEIGY (1983). MIC table pp 4, 5. 2. Regos |, Zak O, SolfR. el al: Antimicrobial spectrum of triclosan, a borad-spcclrum antimicrobial agent for topical a p p l i c a t i o n. marcescens contamination of antiseptic soap containing triclosan: Implications for nosocomial infection ; Addendum. et al: Assessment of the remanent antibacterial effect of a 2% triclosan-detergent preparation on the skin. A comparison of triclosan and chlorhexidine preparations with 60% isopropyl alcohol for hygienic hand disin-fection. The authors of the article in question respond to Findley and Spainhour's concerns. appear concerned that our findings with OR Scrub® (Huntington Laboratories), a product containing 1% tri-closan, may have implications for their product Irgasan DP-300 (Ciba-Geigy). We agree with their conclusion that topical …