For inpatients, is daily bathing with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) more effective than daily bathing with soap and water to reduce methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enteroccocus (VRE) hospital-acquired infections (HAIs)?

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Bottom line: Use of CHG results in significant reductions in risks of central-line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), surgical site infections (SSIs), and colonizations with VRE or MRSA but not reductions in infections.

Summary: Karki S, Cheng AC. “Impact of non-rinse skin cleansing with chlorhexidine gluconate on prevention of healthcare-associated infections and colonization with multi-resistant organisms: a systematic review.” J Hosp Infect. 2012;82(2):71-84.
This systematic review included sixteen published studies and four conference abstracts. Studies compared the use of CHG in washcloths with at least one of the following: soap and water bathing, routine advice, or no intervention.

Reviewed and updated 4/11/2014 ldt

 

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