Assessing the Potential for Unintended Microbial Consequences of Routine Chlorhexidine Bathing for Prevention of Healthcare-associated Infections

Overview

Journal Clin Infect Dis

Publisher Oxford University Press

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2020 Aug 9

PMID 32766819

Citations 7

Authors

Ahmed Babiker

Joseph D Lutgring

Scott Fridkin

Mary K Hayden

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) is an antiseptic that is widely used in healthcare due to its excellent safety profile and wide spectrum of activity. Daily bathing with CHG has proven to be effective in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections and multidrug-resistant pathogen decolonization. Despite the proven benefits of CHG use, there remain concerns and unanswered questions about the potential for unintended microbial consequences of routine CHG bathing. This review aims to explore some of these questions.

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