Chlorhexidine bathing in intensive care units for the prevention of nosocomial infections. A systematic review

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of chlorhexidine use patients in adult intensive care units for preventing nosocomial infections. We carried out a systematic review of randomized clinical trials published over the past 10 years. We collected the following data: type of infection, mortality, isolated microorganisms, and multi-drug-resistant microorganisms. In two out of the five studies included in the review, bathing with chlorhexidine was ineffective due to low cross-in-fection rates at baseline and Gram-negative bacteria being the most prevalent type of microorganism, against which chlorhexidine is not as effective. No decline in death rates was either observed. Chlorhexidine bathing was mainly effective in preventing bloodstream infections and those caused by Gram-positive bacteria. Thus, its use may be effective in intensive care units with high prevalence of infections by this type of microorganisms.