American Cleaning Institute Offers Response to Proposed FDA Rule on Healthcare Antiseptics

The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) issued a response to a proposed rule by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) governing over-the-counter antiseptic healthcare products: “We strongly agree with the Food and Drug Administration’s recommendation that healthcare personnel continue to use antiseptic products as they currently do. These soaps, washes, alcohol rubs, hand scrubs and pre-operative skin preparations are critical to infection control for patients and healthcare workers alike,” says Richard Sedlak, ACI executive vice president of technical and international affairs. “We believe that the FDA already has in its hands a wealth of scientific data that details the safety and effectiveness of these critical antiseptic products. These products have been used safely and effectively by healthcare workers for decades. While manufacturers have submitted extensive data already, we will continue working with the FDA and provide the necessary information to answer their questions. We need to ensure these products remain available to help save lives in thousands of hospitals and healthcare settings across the United States.”