High Prevalence of Reduced Chlorhexidine Susceptibility in Organisms Causing Central Line–Associated Bloodstream Infections

Abstract

In units that bathe patients daily with chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG), organisms causing central line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) were more likely to have reduced CHG susceptibility than organisms causing CLABSIs in units that do not bathe patients daily with CHG (86% vs 64%; P = .028). Surveillance is needed to detect reduced CHG susceptibility with widespread CHG use.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2014;35(9):1183-1186