Here is an article on pre-surgical chlorhexidine bathing that it of interest. The abstract can be accessed here.
The authors conducted a randomized prospective analysis in 120 healthy volunteers
was conducted using a standardized process of dose, duration, and timing of 4% chlorhexidine gluconate
applied during preoperative showering. The volunteers were randomized to 2
chlorhexidine gluconate, 4%, showering groups (2 vs 3 showers), containing 60
participants each, and 3 subgroups (no pause, 1-minute pause, or 2-minute pause
before rinsing), containing 20 participants each. Volunteers used 118 mL of
chlorhexidine gluconate, 4%, for each shower. Skin surface concentrations of
chlorhexidine gluconate were analyzed.
The findings?
A standardized preadmission shower regimen that includes 118
mL of aqueous chlorhexidine gluconate, 4%, per shower, with a minimum of 2
sequential showers; and a 1-minute pause before rinsing results in maximal skin
surface concentrations of chlorhexidine gluconate. This concentration (16.5 µg/cm2) is sufficient to inhibit or kill potential surgical wound
pathogens.
Although surgical infection outcomes were not assessed, the findings suggest that pre-operative chlorhexidine bathing must be formalized and clearly protocolized with easy to use instructions in order to result in adequate antibacterial effect.
This remains a work in progress.
Although surgical infection outcomes were not assessed, the findings suggest that pre-operative chlorhexidine bathing must be formalized and clearly protocolized with easy to use instructions in order to result in adequate antibacterial effect.
This remains a work in progress.
