Laboratory evaluation of skin permeation of antiseptic agents
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Laboratory evaluation of skin permeation of antiseptic agents
IRAS ID
147753
Contact name
TSJ Elliott
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham
Research summary
In this laboratory study we wish to investigate skin permeation of antiseptic agents such as chlorhexidine and methods for improving the permeation. This may help to reduce the risk of infection associated with invasive procedures in future patients. Many studies on antiseptic compounds have been published; however despite efforts to improve pre-operative skin preparation infections associated with the invasive procedures remain a challenge in the healthcare.
Microorganisms on skin and within skin structures cannot be fully eradicated with current antiseptic procedures and may therefore contaminate a wound and cause infection when the protective skin barrier is breached during invasive procedures. One contributing factor for reduced antiseptic response on the skin may be poor skin permeation of antiseptic agents below the surface layers of the skin, thereby enabling microorganisms to survive within skin structures after antiseptic procedures. In this study we aim to elucidate further the skin permeation of chlorhexidine, and related compounds such as octenidine, when incorporated with various carrier compounds. Furthermore, we aim to investigate the accumulation of antiseptic within the skin structures.
In this study a human skin model will be utilised. Following application of antiseptic on the surface of donor skin, thin horizontal sections will be cut and antiseptic in each layer of skin determined. Antiseptic accumulation within skin structures, including hair follicles, will be visualised from perpendicular skin sections. For investigations of skin penetration profiles of antiseptic agents full thickness human skin is preferable, as many differences between animal models and human skin absorption have been shown to be permeant-specific. In this study, donor human skin will be utilised, which will be obtained anonymised from a licensed human tissue bank.
The study is funded by an educational grant from Insight Health Ltd. The study will be undertaken at the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, in collaboration with Aston University and University of Huddersfield over a 12-month period.REC name
West of Scotland REC 4
REC reference
14/WS/1012
Date of REC Opinion
12 Jun 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion