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Blood Concentrations of Chlorhexidine in Hospitalized Children Undergoing Daily Chlorhexidine Bathing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Andrew Lee
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Robert Harlan
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Autumn R. Breaud
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Kathleen Speck
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Trish M. Perl
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
William Clarke
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Aaron M. Milstone*
Affiliation:
Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
*
JHU Pediatric Infectious Diseases, 200 North Wolfe Street, Rubenstein 3141, Baltimore, MD 21287 ([email protected])

Abstract

We collected serial blood samples from children in the intensive care unit who underwent daily bathing with 2% Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG)-impregnated cloths. Low concentrations of CHG were detected in a few blood samples, indicating absorption through intact skin. There was no suggestion that CHG accumulated in the blood with repeated exposures.

Type
Concise Communication
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2011

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