April/May 2013 Volume 2, Issue 5
UMMC Nursing Newsletter CHG Bathing - Coming to an ICU Near You! Providing a daily Chlorhexidine (CHG) bath to ICU patients helps reduce the risk of blood stream infections (BSI’s) and multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) such as MRSA and VRE, as well as colonization with Candida. CHG has been around as a topical antiseptic for over 50 years. It has both a rapid onset of bactericidal action and prolonged antimicrobial efficacy for a lasting effect.
Common Chlorhexidine Forms Product
Contains
CHG Concentration
Healthcare Uses
Topical Combination Solution (70% alcohol + chlorhexidine)
Sponge applicators Swab sticks Ampules
2% or 3.15% With 70% isopropyl alcohol
Skin preparation for surgery, invasive procedures, central lines to prevent SSI and BSI Not for all over general use
CHG cleansing solution For bathing
Liquid detergent (sudsing base)
2% or 4% aqueous
Daily bathing in ICU patients and preoperative showering/bathing May be used on any part of the body below the neck.
CHG Impregnated Cloths
Impregnated single-use washcloth
2% aqueous
Alternative to CHG wash in time sensitive situations
Oral solution
Oral rinse (must have a provider order)
0.12%
Decontaminate oral cavity (ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention protocols)
Gauze dressing
Cotton-weave gauze dressing
0.5% with paraffin
Wounds or burns
Catheter dressing
CHG pad or integrated with transparent dressing
2% gel pad or foam disk
Peripherally inserted central catheters Central line dressings
Surgical hand scrub
Waterless 1% CHG in an alcohol antiseptic hand base with emollients gel
Hand scrub for healthcare personnel (nonsoiled hands)
Indications for CHG bathing: 1. All critically ill adult & pediatric* patients who have no known allergy to CHG should receive a daily chlorhexidine bath from their chin to their toes. • NOTE: with the exception of very low birth weight infants. 2. Preoperative Patients in the ICU who are bathed daily with CHG and who have had two consecutive daily CHG baths, one within the most recent 12 hours will be considered compliant with meeting the presurgical bathing requirement. 3. Preoperative Patients who are ambulatory or inpatients not in an ICU should receive the 2 CHG baths within 24 hours prior to surgery– one the night before, and one morning of surgery.
Check Healthstream assignment for new CHG bathing module -complete by June 1st 1