Chlorhexidine bathing in ICUs

Q: Chlorhexidine bathing is superior to bathing with soap and water in ICUs? (select one)

A) True
B) False


Answer: A

Most of the studies have now established that bath/cleaning of patients with chlorhexidine-impregnated washcloths every day is superior to bathing with soap and water in ICUs. There are two major reasons behind it. First, it decreases the colonization of drug-resistant organisms. Second, (excess) water may be associated with an increased catheter exit-site infections. 4 Daily bathing with chlorhexidine also showed to decrease the line infections. 3

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References:

1. O'Horo JC, Silva GL, Munoz-Price LS, Safdar N. The efficacy of daily bathing with chlorhexidine for reducing healthcare-associated bloodstream infections: a meta-analysis. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2012; 33:257. 

2. Climo MW, Yokoe DS, Warren DK, et al. Effect of daily chlorhexidine bathing on hospital-acquired infection. N Engl J Med 2013; 368:533.

3. Montecalvo MA, McKenna D, Yarrish R, et al. Chlorhexidine bathing to reduce central venous catheter-associated bloodstream infection: impact and sustainability. Am J Med 2012; 125:505. 

4. Marchaim D, Taylor AR, Hayakawa K, et al. Hospital bath basins are frequently contaminated with multidrug-resistant human pathogens. Am J Infect Control 2012; 40:562.