A standardized preadmission shower regimen results in maximum skin surface concentrations of chlorhexidine gluconate that can inhibit or kill surgical wound pathogens, according to a study just published online in JAMA Surgery.1
The showers included 118 mL of aqueous chlorhexidine gluconate, 4%, per shower, with a 1-minute pause before rinsing. There were a minimum of two sequential showers.
“This showering regimen corrects deficiencies present in current nonstandardized preadmission shower protocols for patients undergoing elective surgery,” the authors said.
A randomized prospective analysis in 120 volunteers was conducted at an academic tertiary care medical center from June 1, 2014, to Sept. 30, 2014. The volunteers were randomized to two chlorhexidine gluconate, 4%, showering groups (two versus three showers), containing 60 participants each, and three subgroups (no pause, 1-minute pause, or 2-minute pause before rinsing), containing 20 participants each.
Skin surface concentrations of chlorhexidine gluconate were analyzed using colorimetric assay at five anatomic sites. Access the study at http://bit.ly/1O3W8pg.
REFERENCE
- Edmiston CE Jr, Lee CJ, Krepel CJ, et al. Evidence for a standardized preadmission showering regimen to achieve maximal antiseptic skin surface concentrations of chlorhexidine gluconate, 4%, in surgical patients. JAMA Surg Aug. 26, 2015; doi:10.1001/jamasurg.2015.2210.
