Abstract
A method of quantifying the remanent antibacterial effect of a 2% triclosan preparation in detergent following three consecutive applications on the forearm of 20 volunteers over 2 h, is described with reference to its efficacy against a gentamicin- and multiply-resistant serotype of Klebsiella aerogenes. The relevance of the residual activity of triclosan and other skin antiseptics in surgical and hygienic hand disinfection are discussed.