Preliminary results showed that the use of the cloths helped prevent infections.

Subjects in the study were randomized to a treatment group using Chlorhexidine cloths or a standard-of-care group who only had a bath with antibacterial soap and water. Both groups received standard infection control practices during admission.

Between March 2012 and November 2012, patients scheduled for total hip arthroplasty (THA) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were randomized (539 patients; 554 arthroplasties) at the time of their preoperative clinic visit. Patients in the chlorhexidine protocol group (275 arthroplasties) applied 2% chlorhexidine gluconate-impregnated cloths to their skin the night before and the morning of surgical admission. Patients in the standard of care group (279 arthroplasties) took a bath with soap and water the night before surgical admission. Both groups were subject to standard infection control practices during admission. The primary outcome was periprosthetic infection incidence within one year of surgery, and secondary outcomes included the potential influence of risk factors for periprosthetic infection and incidence of adverse events.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Joint replacement surgery for any reason
• 18 years or older

Exclusion Criteria:

• unable to comply with study requirements
• were pregnant
• were under the age of 18 years
• medical history of immunosuppression or systemic disease e.g. human immunodeficiency virus, status-post organ transplantation
• received greater than 10 milligrams of prednisone equivalent for more than 10 days within 90 days prior to enrollment;
• chronic hepatitis B or C infection
• had an infection in or around the joint requiring surgery.