Benefits of Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) Wash

Reduce the Risk of Infection

Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) is exceptionally effective at reducing bacterial counts on the skin. In fact, for a pre-op skin wash, Chlorhexidine was shown to reduce bacterial counts on the skin 9-fold while povidone-iodine only reduced colony counts by 1.3[1].

CHG is an antiseptic soap alternative that effectively reduces the risk of infections. It is active against gram-positive and non-spore-forming bacteria and selective lipid-envelope viruses. It is generally available as 2%, 4%, and 5% CHG, all used for different applications.

Preserve Skin Hygiene

Maintaining skin hygiene before surgery is key to minimising the risk of severe Surgical Site Infections (SSIs). SSIs can occur when bacteria enter a surgical wound. These infections commonly occur in the operating room, where the bacteria can come from several sources, including the environment, staff, and the patient. SSIs occur in 3% of all patients having surgery and can reduce the quality of life and increase mortality rates[2].

To minimise the risk of SSIs, Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) wash is essential to reduce and remove bacteria on the skin surface. Before surgery, it is recommended that patients use a 2% CHG wash. Reducing skin bacteria before surgery reduces the risk of a patient developing an SSI. CHG binds to the skin and has up to 6 hours of residual activity[3]. It is safe to use with minimal skin absorption.

Cover Your Bases

Whiteley™ developed Bactol® 2% CHG hand and body wash solution for both a pre-operative antiseptic body wash and clinical hand washing. Bactol® 2% CHG is pH balanced, contains added moisturisers, and has a pleasant fragrance, unlike other CHG products. It is available in 80ml, 500ml, and 1L pack sizes.

Click HERE to learn more about the range of Bactol products available from SSS Australia.

[1] Reducing the risk of SSI: Does chlorhexidine gluconate provide a risk reduction benefit? Edmiston et al (2013) AJIC
[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - https://www.cdc.gov/hai/ssi/ssi.html. Infographic reference: McCaffery N. et al., PLOS ONE, 2021:16(18)
[3] C.R. Nicolay, Hand hygiene: An evidence-based review for surgeons, International Journal of Surgery, Volume 4, Issue 1, (2006)

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Benefits of Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) Wash

Reduce the Risk of Infection

Preserve Skin Hygiene

Cover Your Bases

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