What is CHG?
Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) is a very strong and effective cleaning product that kills germs. It works by reducing resident microbial count. Daily baths with CHG helps to prevent the spread of infections in hospitals.
In the NICU, we use CHG bathing as a strategy to reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). NICU babies with central venous catheters (PICC lines, Broviacs, etc.) will receive a CHG bath every other night. In addition, “pre-op” prep for NICU babies who are getting ready for surgery consists of a CHG “wipe down” bath. This is performed using 2% CHG cloth wipes, unless contraindicated.
Contraindications for CHG include:
CHG allergy (duh)
Severe skin breakdown, rash or burns
Patient undergoing radiation
Patient receiving phototherapy
Patient on a warming table
Infant less than 2 months of age (corrected gestational age <48 weeks)
These infants will be bathed via soap & water or via non-CHG cleansing washcloths.
Key Points:
If the patient is visibly soiled, bathe him/her with soap & water prior to using the CHG wipes.
As a general rule of thumb, always wipe from head to toe—OR from the cleanest part of the body to the dirtiest.
Dispose of the cloths after cleaning each body section to avoid contamination.
Avoid using these wipes on the patient’s genital (“peri”) area & the face—they can be very irritating to these areas.
If skin redness or itching occurs and does not resolve, notify the provider. The baby may need to be rinsed off and/or lotions/moisturizers may be applied.
Each package of wipes contains 2 CHG wipes, and it is important for both wipes to be used when bathing the infant!