Evaluation of the bacterial burden of gel nails, standard nail polish, and natural nails on the hands of health care workers.
Publication/Presentation Date
12-1-2018
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Acrylic nails harbor more bacteria than natural nails, and wear is not recommended for health care workers (HCWs). Little is known about the new and popular gel nail products. This study sought to evaluate the bacterial burden of gel nails, standard nail polish, and natural nails on the hands of HCWs.
METHODS: The study was conducted at 3 health centers. Nails on the dominant hand of 88 HCWs were painted with gel polish and standard polish. Cultures were obtained on days 1, 7, and 14 of wear and before and after hand hygiene with alcohol hand gel.
RESULTS: A total of 741 cultures were obtained. Bacterial burden increased over time for all nail types (P ≤ .0001). Reductions in the bacterial burden of natural nails and standard polish, but not gel polish, (P = .001, P = .0028, and P = .98, respectively) were seen after hand hygiene. All 3 nail types become more contaminated with bacteria over time. Standard polish and natural nails may be more amenable to hand hygiene than gel polish.
CONCLUSIONS: This study did not show an increased number of microorganisms on nails with gel polish; however, gel nails may be more difficult to clean using alcohol hand gel.
Volume
46
Issue
12
First Page
1356
Last Page
1359
ISSN
1527-3296
Published In/Presented At
Hewlett, A. L., Hohenberger, H., Murphy, C. N., Helget, L., Hausmann, H., Lyden, E., Fey, P. D., & Hicks, R. (2018). Evaluation of the bacterial burden of gel nails, standard nail polish, and natural nails on the hands of health care workers. American journal of infection control, 46(12), 1356–1359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2018.05.022
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
30509357
Department(s)
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Document Type
Article