Evaluation of the antimicrobial efficacy of soap containing essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia and impact on increasing adherence to hand hygiene by its aromatherapy effect

• Grant number: 13/23008-7
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: April 01, 2014
• End date: March 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Nursing - Medical-Surgical Nursing
• Principal Investigator: Maria Julia Paes da Silva
• Grantee: Maria Julia Paes da Silva
• Host Institution: Escola de Enfermagem (EE). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The antimicrobial effects of essential oils have been reported in the scientific literature, particularly the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia, also known as tea tree essential oil. This essential oil has shown antiseptic properties and may represent an alternative as a natural product for hand hygiene in healthcare settings, which currently use predominantly triclosan and chlorhexidine-based products. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of hand hygiene in reducing the microbial load using soap containing 5.0% Melaleuca alternifolia compared with two different formulations of liquid soaps traditionally used in healthcare settings containing 0.5% triclosan and 2.0 % chlorhexidine and to assess its aromatherapy effect, exploring how the use of this soap was perceived by health professionals. Methods: To evaluate the effectiveness in reducing microbial load, the methodology guidelines of the European Committee for Standardization EN1499 will be used, which are indicated to evaluate the effectiveness of antiseptic agents for hand hygiene. The hands of 15 healthy volunteers will be artificially contaminated with Escherichia coli K12, followed by washing of the hands with each product being evaluated. The number of microorganisms will be counted before (pre-values) and after (post-values) hand hygiene. The association between pre-and post-values will represent the antimicrobial activity, demonstrating the effectiveness of the product being tested. To obtain data on the aromatherapy effect of Melaleuca alternifolia, focus groups will be performed, and the results will be analyzed in accordance with collective subject discourse. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

GNATTA, JULIANA RIZZO; DE BRITO POVEDA, VANESSA; PADOVEZE, MARIA CLARA; GRAZIANO, KAZUKO UCHIKAWA; TURRINI, RUTH NATALIA TERESA; DA SILVA, MARIA JULIA PAES. Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil soap: a potential alternative for hand hygiene. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY & INFECTIOUS DISEASES, v. 40, n. 7, p. 1517-1520, JUL 2021. (13/23008-7)