Another look at CHG bathing in a surgical intensive care unit

Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) are a cause of increased morbidity, mortality, and hospital costs (1,2). Various infection control strategies, including “bundles” of interventions, have been used to decrease the incidence of HAIs (3). Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), an antiseptic with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity (4) has been shown in several studies to be an important component of infection prevention in intensive care units (ICUs) (4,5). Daily patient bathing with CHG has led to declines in central line associated bloodstream infections (BSIs) (6,7), acquisition of multi-drug resistant organisms (8), and hospital-acquired BSIs (8).