Daily Chlorhexidine Bathing and Infection Rates in Critically-ill Patients

Phase 4 Study of the Impact of Daily Bathing With Chlorhexidine-gluconate Impregnated Bathing Cloths on Nosocomial Infections in Critically Ill Patients

Healthcare-associated infections are a major cause of morbidity among critically ill patients. Bathing critically ill patients with cloths impregnated with the broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent chlorhexidine-gluconate may decrease healthcare-associated infections. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of daily bathing with disposable chlorhexidine-impregnated bathing cloths, as compared to daily bathing with disposable standard non-chlorhexidine-impregnated bathing cloths, on the rates of healthcare-associated infections in critically-ill patients.

Hypothesis: Daily bathing of the skin with chlorhexidine-impregnated bathing cloths will result in reduced rates of healthcare-associated infections in patients admitted to intensive care units (ICU).

Inclusion Criteria:

• All patients admitted to the medical, surgical, trauma, cardiovascular and neuro adult intensive care units at Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Being cared for in the burn ICU or patients with TEN/SJS or burns being cared for in one of the non-burn intensive care units.
2. Patients with known allergy to chlorhexidine gluconate
3. Age < 18 years old
4. Patients where daily bathing would not be safe