OBJECTIVE To determine the effectiveness of oral decontamination with 2% chlorhexidine solution for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). DESIGN Randomized controlled trial and meta-analysis. SETTING A tertiary care university hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. PARTICIPANTS Adult patients who received mechanical ventilation and who were hospitalized in intensive care units ...

OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy of topical chlorhexidine for prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in a meta-analysis. DATA SOURCE Computerized PubMed and MEDLINE search supplemented by manual searches for relevant articles. STUDY SELECTION Randomized controlled trials evaluating efficacy of topical chlorhexidine applied to the oropharynx vs. placebo or standard care for prev...

BACKGROUND Catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) account for the majority of hemodialysis-related infections. There are no published data on the efficacy of the chlorhexidine-impregnated foam dressing at reducing the rate of CRBSI among patients undergoing hemodialysis. DESIGN A prospective, nonblinded, crossover intervention trial to determine the efficacy of a chlorhexidine-impre...

IMPORTANCE Surgical site infections (SSIs), commonly caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, specifically when hardware is implanted in the patient. Previously, we have demonstrated that a preoperative decontamination protocol using chlorhexidine gluconate washcloths and intranasal antiseptic ointment is effective in...

The effects of age in culture and the type of medium used for induction of Acanthamoeba polyphaga (Ros) cysts on susceptibilities to polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB; 3 micro g/ml), chlorhexidine digluconate (30 micro g/ml), myristamidopropyl dimethylamine (20 micro g/ml), H(2)O(2) (3%), and two multipurpose contact lens solutions (MPS-1 and MPS-2, based on 1 micro g of PHMB per ml) were exami...

BACKGROUND Chlorhexidine is used for disinfection of skin and mucosae in medicine and dentistry. Prolonged exposure may lead to contact sensitization and allergic contact dermatitis or stomatitis. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to analyse the sources of chlorhexidine exposure and sensitization, and to obtain data on the prevalence of sensitization and chlorhexidine-related contact a...

Introduction: The aim of the study was to evaluate the sustained release effect of 2% chlorhexidine and its combination with 2% chitosan, in vitro. Method: The sustained release effect of chlorhexidine and its combination with chitosan was determined using a UV spectrophotometer. Results: UV spectrophotometer analysis for the sustained release of chlorhexidine showed that almost 100% of chlorhe...

BACKGROUND Despite a paucity of evidence, decolonization measures are prescribed for outpatients with recurrent Staphylococcus aureus skin and soft-tissue infection (SSTI). OBJECTIVE Compare the effectiveness of 4 regimens for eradicating S. aureus carriage. DESIGN Open-label, randomized controlled trial. Colonization status and recurrent SSTI were ascertained at 1 and 4 months. SETTING B...

BACKGROUND Decreasing the levels of bacteria in the oropharynx should reduce the prevalence of nosocomial pneumonia. OBJECTIVES To test the effectiveness of 0.12% chlorhexidine gluconate oral rinse in decreasing microbial colonization of the respiratory tract and nosocomial pneumonia in patients undergoing open heart surgery. METHODS A prospective, randomized, case-controlled clinical trial...

BACKGROUND Skin antisepsis is a simple and effective measure to prevent infections. The efficacy of chlorhexidine is actively discussed in the literature on skin antisepsis. However, study outcomes due to chlorhexidine-alcohol combinations are often attributed to chlorhexidine alone. Thus, we sought to review the efficacy of chlorhexidine for skin antisepsis and the extent of a possible misinte...