The invention relates to an antimicrobial oil-in-water emulsion, which contains at least one oil component, a cationic antimicrobial active substance, a first non-ionic emulsifier and water, and to the use of said oil-in-water emulsion. The invention also relates to a method for preventing colonisation of the skin by multi-resistant germs, and for preventing infections by multi-resistant germs by means of sanitizing the colonised skin, which comprises applying an oil-in-water emulsion according to the invention to the skin of a person.