Skin sterility after application of ethyl chloride spray.

摘要: Background: Ethyl chloride topical anesthetic spray is labeled as nonsterile, yet it widely used during injection procedures performed in an outpatient setting. The purpose of this study was to investigate the sterility ethyl applied before injection. Our a priori hypothesis that application after skin has been prepared would not alter site. Methods: We conducted prospective, blinded, controlled assess effect on sterility. Fifteen healthy adult subjects (age, twenty-three sixty-one years) were for mock injections into both shoulders and knees, although no actually performed. Three culture samples obtained from each site skin: one preparation with isopropyl alcohol, chloride, had sprayed site. In addition, tested directly by inoculating cultures bottles. Results: Growth occurred 70% preparation, 3% but 5% chloride. percentage positive did increase significantly (p = 0.65). Spraying agar plates resulted growth 13% these compared 11% control plates; difference also significant 0.80). Conclusions: Although sterile, its sites shoulder knee.