Implementation of 2% Chlorhexidine Bathing to Reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections Among Patients in the Intensive Care Unit

Implementation of 2% Chlorhexidine Bathing to Reduce Healthcare-Associated Infections Among Patients in the Intensive Care Unit

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) significantly increase morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stays, and costs, particularly among ICU patients. Despite standard interventions, catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) and central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)...

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Main Authors: Hsu-Liang Chang, Tzu-Ying Liu, Po-Shou Huang, Chin-Hwan Chen, Chia-Wen Yen, Hui-Zhu Chen, Shin-Huei Kuo, Tun-Chieh Chen, Shang-Yi Lin, Po-Liang Lu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Microorganisms
Subjects:
healthcare-associated infections
catheter-associated urinary tract infections
catheter-associated bloodstream infections
chlorhexidine gluconate
multidrug-resistant organisms
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/1/65
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Summary:Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) significantly increase morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stays, and costs, particularly among ICU patients. Despite standard interventions, catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) and central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) remain major HAI contributors. This study evaluated the efficacy of daily 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing in reducing HAI incidence, specifically CAUTI, CLABSI, and multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), in a 20-bed ICU at a regional hospital. Using a prospective, uncontrolled before-and-after design, we compared traditional soap-water bathing (pre-intervention period) with CHG bathing over a one-year intervention and one-year post-intervention follow-up. The total number of patients and patient days admitted to the ICU per year were around 1330–1412 patients and 6702–6927 patient days, respectively, during 2018–2020. Results showed a significant reduction in HAI incidence rates from 3.43‰ to 0.58‰ (<i>p</i> < 0.05) during the intervention and sustained benefits post-intervention. Incidences of CAUTI and CLABSI decreased markedly (<i>p</i> < 0.05), with reduced MDRO isolates, including methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, vancomycin-resistant <i>Enterococci</i>, carbapenem-resistant <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>, and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>. Our findings support the implementation of daily CHG bathing as an effective strategy to reduce HAI and MDROs in ICU settings.
ISSN:2076-2607

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