Critical assessment of the pH of children's soap / Avaliação crítica do pH dos sabonetes infantis

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the pH value of children's antibacterial soaps and syndets used in children's baths and verify whether there is information regarding pH on the product label. Methods: Quantitative, cross-sectional, analytical observational study that included ninety soap samples, both in bar and liquid presentations, as follows: 67 children's soap (group 1), 17 antibacterial soaps (group 2), and 6 syndets (group 3). Each sample had its pH measured after 1% dilution. In addition to descriptive statistics, the Pearson-Yates chi-squared test and Student's t-tests were applied, considering the minimal significance level of 5%. The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test, Fisher's exact test, and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used for inferential statistics. Results: The pH levels varied considerably between liquid and bar presentations, with lower levels (4.4-7.9) found for the liquids (p < 0.05). Syndets showed pH levels close to the ideal (slightly acid) and the antibacterial soaps showed the highest pH levels (up to 11.34) (p < 0.05). Only two of the soaps included in the study had information about their pH levels on the product packaging. Conclusions: Knowledge of the pH of children's soap by doctors and users is important, considering the great pH variability found in this study. Moreover, liquid soaps, and especially syndets, are the most recommended for the sensitive skin of neonates and infants, in order to guarantee skin barrier efficacy.

Resumo Objetivos: Avaliar o pH dos sabonetes infantis, antibacterianos e sindets (syntetic detergents) habitualmente usados em crianças, bem como verificar se há no rótulo desses produtos informação sobre seu pH. Métodos: Estudo observacional, analítico, transversal e quantitativo, que incluiu 90 sabonetes nas apresentações em barra e líquida, 67 infantis (grupo 1), 17 antibacterianos (grupo 2) e 6 sindets (grupo 3). Procedeu-se à mensuração do pH das amostras após diluição a 1%. Além da estatística descritiva, foram usados os testes de qui-quadrado Persons/Yates e t de Student, com nível de significância mínimo de 5%. Para a estatística inferencial, foram usados os testes de Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney, exato de Fisher e Kruskal-Wallis. Resultados: O pH variou consideravelmente entre as formas líquida e em barra, com pHs menores (de 4,4 a 7,9) nos líquidos (p < 0,05). Os sindets mostraram pHs próximos ao ideal (levemente ácidos) e os antibacterianos apresentaram os maiores pHs (até 11,34) (p < 0.05). Apenas dois dos sabonetes analisados apresentavam no rótulo a indicação do pH. Conclusões: A observação do pH dos sabonetes infantis pelos médicos e usuários é importante, haja vista a grande variabilidade de valores de pH encontrados. Além disso, os sabonetes líquidos, e especialmente os sindets, são os mais recomendados para uso em recém-nascidos e lactentes com pele sensível, de forma a garantir a eficácia da barreira cutânea.

Critical assessment of the pH of children's soap.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the pH value of children's antibacterial soaps and syndets used in children's baths and verify whether there is information regarding pH on the product label. METHODS: Quantitative, cross-sectional, analytical observational study that included ninety soap samples, both in bar and liquid presentations, as follows: 67 children's soap (group 1), 17 antibacterial soaps (group 2), and 6 syndets (group 3). Each sample had its pH measured after 1% dilution. In addition to descriptive statistics, the Pearson-Yates chi-squared test and Student's t-tests were applied, considering the minimal significance level of 5%. The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test, Fisher's exact test, and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used for inferential statistics. RESULTS: The pH levels varied considerably between liquid and bar presentations, with lower levels (4.4-7.9) found for the liquids (p<0.05). Syndets showed pH levels close to the ideal (slightly acid) and the antibacterial soaps showed the highest pH levels (up to 11.34) (p<0.05). Only two of the soaps included in the study had information about their pH levels on the product packaging. CONCLUSIONS: Knowledge of the pH of children's soap by doctors and users is important, considering the great pH variability found in this study. Moreover, liquid soaps, and especially syndets, are the most recommended for the sensitive skin of neonates and infants, in order to guarantee skin barrier efficacy.

Evidence-based recommendations for hand hygiene for health care workers in New Zealand.

AIM: The aim of this systematic review is to establish evidence-based recommendations for hand hygiene for health care workers in New Zealand. METHODS: Using a systematic approach to literature searching, relevant studies were retrieved and evaluated using a standardised tool. The 23 studies that met the inclusion criteria were categorised into subgroups depending on the type of comparison: hand hygiene product; skin condition; hand drying method. A 'best-evidence synthesis' was utilised for classifying the evidence. RESULTS: Included studies provided evidence to support the use of alcohol-based hand rub as the preferred hand hygiene product. There was conflicting evidence for the use of medicated or plain soap, or any particular method to dry hands. CONCLUSIONS: Hand hygiene is a crucial component of risk management for both health care workers and their patients. It is important that hand hygiene practice is based on the best current evidence. As a result of a systematic review, evidence-based recommendations for hand hygiene for health care workers are proposed.

Principios básicos de la higiene de la piel y de los productos usados para la limpieza cutánea / Basic principles of skin hygiene and products used for the cutaneous cleaning

La higiene de la piel tiene como objetivo eliminar la suciedad de su superficie, compuesta por residuos fisiológicos y ambientales. Permite, además, prevenir la infección y suprimir olores desagradables. Para estos fines se requieren tensoactivos, substancias anfifílicas capaces de remover los elementos, tanto hidrofílicos como lipofílicos, que componen dicha suciedad. Se revisan las propiedades y tipos de tensoactivos utilizados en la formulación de los cosméticos higiénicos. Se exponen los principales productos de limpieza cutánea, incluyendo jabones, syndets y emulsiones, su composición, uso, evaluación y efectos adversos

El PH de los jabones / The PH of the soups

Se cuantificó el pH de 29 jabones tanto de marcas comerciales así como de laboratorios médicos. Se observaron grados de alcalinidad, en la mayoría de ellos. Asimismo confirmamos la neutralidad de algunos jabones medicados o especiales, que se recomiendan para la piel muy sensible