Providence St. Patrick Hospital: Eliminating hand soaps containing triclosan

Safer hand hygiene toolkit

Description

(Safer hand hygiene toolkit) In 2011, Providence St. Patrick Hospital set out to review the use of hand soaps containing triclosan due to emerging health and environmental concerns. New data and recommendations from authoritative bodies helped convince the Infection Prevention team that a switch was warranted. In 2012, Providence St. Patrick Hospital was able to eliminate triclosan from hand soaps in all areas of the hospital. The hospital changed to non-antimicrobial hand soap in non-clinical areas and a triclosan-free antimicrobial hand soap (containing chloroxylenol) in clinical areas. The change for Providence St. Patrick Hospital was cost neutral. In 2016, triclosan-free hand soaps were adopted across the health system.

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