Studies on the Self-Disinfecting Power of the Skin

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Abstract
Bacteria applied to the skin diminish in numbers very rapidly. This is particularly noticeable during the first 10 min. In the exps. reported, B. prodigiosus was used as test organism. Similar results are obtained with inert materials such as glass slides, filter paper and tanned hide. The most important factor involved appears to be moisture. Marked disappearance of organisms was coincident with apparent dryness of surface. On surfaces kept moist, bacteria remain viable much longer than when surfaces are allowed to dry. These exps. fail to indicate any inherent germicidal power of living skin.

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