Introduction on Antiseptics
Antiseptics are used to kill or eliminate microorganisms and/or inactivate viruses on living tissues, including intact or broken skin and mucous membranes.
The following table provides an overview of the standard antiseptics mentioned in the MSF catalogue.
Product | Formulations | Indications |
ALCOHOL-BASED hand rub | gel or solution | - Hand antisepsis (hadn rub) |
| CHLORHEXIDINE (di)gluconate | 0.2% mouthwash | - Oral infections and antisepsis of noma-related mouth ulcers |
2% aqueous solution | - Antisepsis of intact skin in neonates | |
5% solution. Used at 0.05% aqueous solution | - Antisepsis of minor and superficial wounds and burns when PVI is contraindicated | |
7.1% gel | - Antisepsis and care of the umbilical cord | |
4% soap | - Antisepsis and cleansing of wounds when PVI is contraindicated | |
| CHLORHEXIDINE / isopropyl alcohol | 2% / 70% swab/wipe | - Antisepsis of intact skin, excluding neonates, prior to injections or punctures (excluding vaccinations) |
2% / 70% coloured sol. | - Antisepsis of intact skin, excluding neonates, prior to surgery (surgical site preparation) | |
POLYVIDONE IODINE (PVI) | 10% solution | - Antisepsis of intact or broken skin and mucous membranes - Preopertaive skin preparation of the surgical sire - Wound antisepsis and dressing - Antisepsis of the gynaecological site prior to delivery, episiotomy, manual vaccum aspiration (MVA), or suturing - Antisepsis of the urinary site prior to urinary catheter insertion |
4% or 7.5% surgical scrub | - Surgical hand washing - Preoperative patient showering - Antiseptic cleansing of the surgical site - Cleansing of soiled wounds |