Randomized trial with soaps - what happens to a newborn baby's skin?

Abstract Objective: Evaluate the effectiveness of a children's soap with physiological pH in maintaining cutaneous pH and moisture of the newborn (NB)'s skin after the first bath. Methods: Randomized, controlled and double-blind clinical trial in a rooming-in of a tertiary maternity hospital in southern Brazil with 204 newborns > 34 gestational weeks. Gestational and obstetric history was evaluated, and newborns were randomized into two groups according to the product applied in the bath: the control group (CG), which used common liquid soap with pH 7.0 and experimental group (EG), which used children's liquid soap with pH 5.8. Evaluation was made immediately before and after bath with skin pH measurement, corneometry and clinical parameters (erythema, scaling and moisture), on the forehead, abdomen and thigh. Results: There was no difference between groups regarding gestational, obstetric and family history (p > 0.05). In CG, skin pH increased in the abdomen and thigh (p < 0.05). In EG there was an improvement in clinical parameters after bathing with: increased moisture, less erythema and less scaling (p < 0.05). On the forehead, there was a significant increase in pH after bathing (p < 0.001) similar in both groups, although no use of soap. There was no difference in corneometry between groups after bathing. Conclusions: Children's liquid soap with physiological pH maintained the acidic skin pH and moisture of the newborn's skin after the first bath, which reinforces the importance of using products with physiological pH in the hygiene of newborns. Registration number RBR-9ky84vd.

Esponjas de banho: promovem limpeza ou podem ser reservatório e veículo de transmissão de microrganismos? / Bath sponges: promote cleaning or can be reservoirs and vehicles in the transmission of microorganisms?

As esponjas de banho podem carrear contaminação, pois sua estrutura favorece a multiplicação microbiana. Desse modo, o objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a eficiência de dois métodos de desinfecção para diminuir a quantidade de microrganismos de importância clínica nas esponjas de banho. Foram analisadas 30 esponjas de banho (15 vegetais e 15 sintéticas) que foram cortadas em três partes iguais. Uma delas serviu como controle. As demais partes foram submetidas à desinfecção por fervura durante cinco minutos e à imersão em hipoclorito de sódio 200 ppm. Os resultados demonstraram média de contaminação de bactérias heterotróficas de 4,1 LogUFC/mL e 4,7 LogUFC/mL, para as vegetais e sintéticas, respectivamente. A maioria (80%) das esponjas (10 sintéticas e 14 vegetais) apresentou contaminação por microrganismos de importância clínica. Os métodos de desinfecção reduziram as contagens de bactérias heterotróficas em 3,3 LogUFC/mL com fervura durante cinco minutos e 1,8 LogUFC/mL com desinfecção em hipoclorito de sódio 200 ppm. Conclui-se, portanto, que as esponjas de banho possuem contaminação microbiológica de importância clínica e que a fervura por cinco minutos é um método de fácil execução, baixo custo e capaz de controlar a quantidade de bactérias nas esponjas utilizadas para banho, reduzindo a disseminação de doenças.

Bath sponges can carry contamination, because their structure favors microbial multiplication. Thus, the objective of this work was to verify the efficiency of two disinfection methods to decrease the number of microorganisms of clinical importance in bath sponges. Thirty bath sponges (15 loofah and 15 synthetic) were analyzed and cut in three equal parts. One served as control. The other parts were boiled disinfected for five minutes and immersed in 200 ppm sodium hypochlorite. The results showed a mean contamination of heterotrophic bacteria of 4.1 LogUFC/mL and 4.7 LogUFC/mL, for plants and synthetic, respectively. The majority (80%) of the sponges (10 synthetic and 14 loofah) presented contamination by microorganisms of clinical importance. Disinfection methods reduced the counts of heterotrophic bacteria by 3.3 LogUFC/mL with boiling for five minutes and 1.8 LogUFC/mL with disinfection with 200 ppm sodium hypochlorite. It is concluded, therefore, that bath sponges present microbiological contamination of clinical importance and that boiling for five minutes is an easily executed low-cost method that is able to control the amount of bacteria in sponges used for bathing, reducing the risk of dissemination of disease.

Bathing, make-up, and sunscreen: which products do children use? / Banho, maquiagem e protetor solar: o que as crianças usam?

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the hygiene practices and frequency of use of personal hygiene products, cosmetics, and sunscreen among children and adolescents. Methods: Cross-sectional study with interviews about skincare conducted with caregivers through closed-ended questions. We included patients up to 14 years of age waiting for consultation in pediatric outpatient clinics of a tertiary hospital. We performed a descriptive statistical analysis and applied the Kruskal-Wallis test and Fisher's exact test to compare the practices according to maternal schooling. Results: We conducted 276 interviews. The median age of the participants was age four, and 150 (54.3%) were males. A total of 143 (51.8%) participants bathed once a day and 128 (46.3%) bathed two or more times a day, lasting up to ten minutes in 132 (47.8%) cases. Adult soap was used by 103 (37.3%) children and bar soap by 220 (79.7%). Fifty-three (19.2%) participants used sunscreen daily. Perfume was used by 182 (65.9%) children, hair gel by 98 (35.5%), nail polish by 62 (22.4%), and some type of make-up by 71 (25.7%) - eyeshadow by 30 (10.8%), lipstick by 52 (18.8%), face powder and mascara by 13 (4.7%). Make-up use started at a median age of 4 years. Henna tattoo was done in eight children. Conclusions: The children studied used unsuitable products for their skin, such as those intended for adults, used sunscreen inadequately, and started wearing make-up early, evidencing the need for medical orientation.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar os hábitos de higiene e a frequência do uso de produtos de higiene pessoal, cosméticos e protetor solar nas crianças e adolescentes. Métodos: Estudo transversal com entrevistas para cuidadores sobre cuidados com a pele, por meio de perguntas fechadas. Incluídos pacientes de até 14 anos que consultavam nos ambulatórios pediátricos de um hospital terciário. Realizada estatística descritiva e aplicados os testes de Kruskal-Wallis e exato de Fisher para comparar os hábitos conforme a escolaridade materna. Resultados: Foram realizadas 276 entrevistas. A mediana de idade foi de 4 anos, sendo 150 (54,3%) crianças do sexo masculino. O número de banhos por dia foi de um em 143 (51,8%) casos e dois ou mais por parte de 128 (46,3%) indivíduos, com duração de até dez minutos em 132 (47,8%) dos participantes. O sabonete destinado a adultos era utilizado por 103 (37,3%) crianças e o sabonete em barra por 220 (79,7%) delas. Protetor solar era utilizado diariamente por 53 (19,2%) participantes. Perfume foi utilizado por 182 (65,9%) integrantes da amostra, gel de cabelo por 98 (35,5%), esmalte por 62 (22,4%) e algum tipo de maquiagem por 71 (25,7%) - sombra em 30 (10,8%), batom em 52 (18,8%), pó facial e rímel em 13 (4,7%). A mediana de idade de início do uso de maquiagem foi de 4 anos. Tatuagem de hena foi realizada em oito crianças. Conclusões: As crianças estudadas utilizavam produtos inadequados para a sua pele, como os destinados à pele do adulto, e faziam uso incorreto do protetor solar e uso precoce de maquiagem, mostrando a importância da orientação médica.

Eficácia do banho no leito descartável na carga microbiana: ensaio clínico / Eficacia del baño en cama descartable respecto de la carga microbiana: ensayo clínico / Effectiveness of bag bath on microbial load: clinical trial

Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar a eficácia do banho no leito descartável sobre a carga microbiana da pele de pacientes hospitalizados. Métodos: Ensaio clínico paralelo, randomizado em grupo intervenção (banho no leito descartável) e grupo controle (banho no leito convencional), realizado em Hospital Público de São Paulo, Brasil, de novembro de 2014 a dezembro de 2015. Participaram deste estudo pacientes hospitalizados, adultos e idosos, acamados e dependentes do procedimento. Bag Bath® foi o produto avaliado. Resultados: A carga microbiana nos grupos de seguimento: intervenção (20 pacientes) reduziu, enquanto a no controle (20 pacientes) aumentou significantemente (p<0,001). Estimou-se em 90% a eficácia do produto para banho de leito descartável, comparada à de 20% do banho no leito convencional. Conclusão: A eficácia do produto avaliado foi 4,5 vezes maior sobre a carga microbiana da pele de pacientes hospitalizados, quando comparada à do banho no leito convencional, sinalizando à Enfermagem a necessidade de revisar esse procedimento.

Resumen Objetivo: Evaluar la eficacia del baño en cama descartable respecto de la carga microbiana en la piel de pacientes hospitalizados. Métodos: Ensayo clínico paralelo, randomizado en grupo intervención (baño en cama descartable) y grupo control (baño en cama convencional), realizado en Hospital Público de São Paulo, Brasil, de noviembre 2014 a diciembre 2015. Participaron pacientes hospitalizados, adultos y ancianos, en cama y dependientes del procedimiento. El producto evaluado fue Bag Bath®. Resultados: La carga microbiana de los grupos en seguimiento: intervención (20 pacientes) se redujo, mientras que control (20 pacientes) aumentó significativamente (p<0,001). Se estimó la eficacia del producto para baño en cama descartable en 90%, en tanto que fue del 20% en la cama convencional. Conclusión: La eficacia del producto evaluado fue 4,5 veces mayor sobre la carga microbiana de la piel de pacientes hospitalizados, comparada con baño en cama convencional, determinando Enfermería la necesidad de revisar dicho procedimiento.

Abstract Objective: To assess the effectiveness of bag bath on inpatient skin microbial load. Methods: This was a parallel, randomized clinical trial with an intervention group (bag bath) and a control group (conventional bed bath), conducted in a public hospital in São Paulo, Brazil, from November 2014 to December 2015. The participants were adult and older inpatients, bedridden and depending on the procedure. The product assessed was Bag Bath®. Results: The microbial load decreased in the intervention group (20 patients), while it increased significantly (p < 0.001) in the control group (20 patients). The estimated efficacy of the product for bag bath was 90%, compared with 20% for the conventional bed bath. Conclusion: The product assessed was 4.5 times more effective to decrease the inpatient skin microbial load when compared with the conventional bed bath, suggesting the need for nursing teams to re-evaluate this procedure.

Antimicrobial activity of essential oil from Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC. (carqueja-amarga) / Aceite esencial de Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC. (carqueja-amarga): actividad antimicrobiana

Introduction: the recent enhancement of interest in green consumerism has given rise to a renewed scientific awareness towards essential oils. Essential oil from Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC. (B. trimera) (Asteraceae) is cited as one of the ten most consumed oils by the cosmetic and other industries in Brazil. Objective: to investigate the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from the leaves of B. trimera against Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, Proteus vulgaris ATCC 13315, Micrococcus luteus ATCC 7468 and Corynebacterium xerosis IAL105, which are the main bacteria responsible for bad perspiration odor. Methods: the gas chromatography (GC) analysis was performed and the antimicrobial activity was evaluated by means of the turbidimetric method, using a microdilution assay. Results: ywenty constituents were identified, being that ß-pinene (23.4 percent) was the major compound found. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the essential oil ranged from 500 µg/mL to 1,000 µg/mL. A detrimental effect of the essential oil was observed on the morphology of cell membranes of the bacteria studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Conclusions: the results demonstrate the essential oil of B. trimera has potential in the application of antimicrobial agents in personal care products(AU)

Introducción: el reciente aumento del interés por el consumo verde ha dado lugar a una renovada conciencia científica hacia a los aceites esenciales. El aceite esencial de Baccharis trimera (Less.) DC. (B. trimera) (Asteraceae) es considerado uno de los diez aceites más consumidos por la industria cosmética del Brasil. Objetivos: valorar la actividad antimicrobiana del aceite esencial de hojas de B. trimera frente al Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, Proteus vulgaris ATCC 13315, Micrococcus luteus ATCC 7468 y Corynebacterium xerosis IAL105, que son las principales bacterias responsables del mal olor que es consecuencia de la transpiración. Métodos: se realizó la cromatografía de gases (GG) y la actividad antimicrobiana fué valorada por el método turbidimétrico, usando el ensayo de microdilución. Resultados: se identificarón veinte constituyentes, siendo el ß-pineno (23,4 por ciento) el principal compuesto encontrado. Los valores de la concentración mínima inhibitoria (CMI) del aceite esencial variaron de 500 µg/mL a 1,000 µg/mL. Se observó un efecto perjudicial del aceite esencial en la morfología de las membranas celulares de las bacterias estudiadas por microscopía electrónica de barrido (SEM). Conclusión: los resultados demuestran que el aceite esencial de B. trimera tiene potencial en la aplicación de los agentes antimicrobianos en productos de higiene personal(AU)