How to Use Chlorhexidine Before Surgery

How to Use Chlorhexidine Before Surgery

Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) is a germ-killing (antiseptic) solution that is used to clean the skin. It gets rid of the bacteria that normally live on the skin. Cleaning your skin with CHG before surgery helps lower the risk for infection after surgery. To clean your skin before surgery, you may be given:

  • A CHG solution to use in the shower.
  • A prepackaged cloth that contains CHG.

What are the risks?

Risks of using CHG include:

  • A skin reaction.
  • Hearing loss, if CHG gets in your ears.
  • Eye injury, if CHG gets in your eyes and is not rinsed out.
  • The CHG product catching fire.

Make sure that you avoid smoking and flames after applying CHG to your skin.

Do not use CHG:

  • If you have a chlorhexidine allergy or have previously reacted to chlorhexidine.
  • On babies younger than 2 months of age.

How to use CHG solution

  • Use CHG only as told by your health care provider, and follow the instructions on the label.
  • Use CHG solution while taking a shower. Follow these steps when using CHG solution (unless your health care provider gives you different instructions):
    • Start the shower.
    • Use your normal soap and shampoo to wash your face and hair.
    • Turn off the shower or move out of the shower stream.
    • Pour the CHG onto a clean washcloth. Do not use any type of brush or rough-edged sponge.
    • Starting at your neck, lather your body down to your toes. Make sure you:
      • Pay special attention to the part of your body where you will be having surgery. Scrub this area for at least 1 minute.
      • Use the full amount of CHG as directed. Usually, this is one bottle.
      • Do not use CHG on your head or face. If the solution gets into your ears or eyes, rinse them well with water.
      • Avoid your genital area.
      • Avoid any areas of skin that have broken skin, cuts, or scrapes.
      • Scrub your back and under your arms. Make sure to wash skin folds.
    • Let the lather sit on your skin for 1–2 minutes or as long as told by your health care provider.
    • Thoroughly rinse your entire body in the shower. Make sure that all body creases and crevices are rinsed well.
    • Dry off with a clean towel. Do not put any substances on your body afterward, such as powder, lotion, or perfume.
    • Put on clean clothes or pajamas.
    • If it is the night before your surgery, sleep in clean sheets.

How to use CHG prepackaged cloths

  • Only use CHG cloths as told by your health care provider, and follow the instructions on the label.
  • Use the CHG cloth on clean, dry skin. Follow these steps when using a CHG cloth (unless your health care provider gives you different instructions):
    • Using the CHG cloth, vigorously scrub the part of your body where you will be having surgery. Scrub using a back-and-forth motion for 3 minutes. The area on your body should be completely wet with CHG when you are done scrubbing.
    • Do not rinse. Discard the cloth and let the area air-dry for 1 minute. Do not put any substances on your body afterward, such as powder, lotion, or perfume.
    • Put on clean clothes or pajamas.
    • If it is the night before your surgery, sleep in clean sheets.

Contact a health care provider if:

  • Your skin gets irritated after scrubbing.
  • You have questions about using your solution or cloth.

Get help right away if:

  • Your eyes become very red or swollen.
  • Your eyes itch badly.
  • Your skin itches badly and is red or swollen.
  • Your hearing changes.
  • You have trouble seeing.
  • You have swelling or tingling in your mouth or throat.
  • You have trouble breathing.
  • You swallow any chlorhexidine.

Summary

  • Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) is a germ-killing (antiseptic) solution that is used to clean the skin. Cleaning your skin with CHG before surgery helps lower the risk for infection after surgery.
  • You may be given CHG to use at home. It may be in a bottle or in a prepackaged cloth to use on your skin. Carefully follow your health care provider’s instructions and the instructions on the product label.
  • Do not use CHG if you have a chlorhexidine allergy.
  • Contact your health care provider if your skin gets irritated after scrubbing.
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