Effects of disposable bath and towel bath on the transition of resident skin bacteria, water content of the stratum corneum, and relaxation

Background Bed bath in daily nursing care is crucial for cleaning and moisturizing patients’ skin. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of cleaning and level of comfort of towel and disposable baths. The 2 methods were evaluated based on measurements of the transition of resident skin bacteria, stratum corneum water content, transepidermal water loss, and perceived relaxation levels. Methods Twenty-six healthy women aged 65-90 years participated in this study and received disposable and towel baths. We measured 4 indicators before and after bathing. The participants’ relaxation levels were measured by the Japanese adult version of the Profile of Mood States Second Edition short form. Results Both disposable and towel baths significantly decreased resident skin bacteria. Disposable bath also significantly reduced Staphylococcus aureus and effectively maintained the water content of the stratum corneum. Furthermore, disposable bath was as effective as towel bath at contributing to participants’ relaxation levels. Conclusions This study suggested that using a disposable bath for daily cleaning of patients’ skin is more comfortable and effective than using a towel bath.