Multicenter Trial of Daily Chlorhexidine Bathing to Reduce Nosocomial Infections

Multicenter Evaluation of The Effectiveness of Source Control With Daily Chlorhexidine Skin Preparation in Reducing Nosocomial Infections Including MRSA and VRE

To determine if daily bathing with chlorhexidine impregnated washcloths will reduce the incidence of MRSA and VRE within an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) or ward setting.

This is a cluster randomized, crossover-controlled trial with wards as the units of randomization. The trial will predominantly take place in ICU's but may include any acute care ward that has active surveillance for MRSA and or VRE in place (i.e., Bone Marrow transplant units, Oncology wards, etc.) Units will be randomly assigned to utilize two bathing routines in a random order. Each bathing routine will be utilized on all admitted patients to the unit for a six month study period for a total study duration of 12 months. The two bathing routines will include either the use of the Comfort® Bath Washcloth System (control) or the use of 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate Cloth. Randomized units will either start with 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate Cloth for six months and then switch to Comfort™ Bath Washcloth for the remaining six month period or the reverse order. Data collection will include all surveillance and clinical cultures for MRSA and or VRE and all bloodstream infections.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All patients admitted to study units during the proposed study interval are eligible for inclusion in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with known allergies to chlorhexidine gluconate or any other ingredients in the product
• Patients with burns that include a high percentage of disrupted body surface area
• Use in patients undergoing lumbar punctures or contact with the meninges
• Patients with large open skin wounds; and
• Children less than 18 years old