Chlorhexidine for prevention of neonatal colonization with group B streptococci. II. Chlorhexidine concentrations and recovery of group B streptococci following vaginal washing in pregnant women.
The effect of a single washing of the urogenital tract with 0.5 g/l chlorhexidine was studied in 6 women in weeks 38-40 of pregnancy, among whom 5 were carriers of group B streptococci in urethra and/or cervix. The chlorhexidine concentrations varied between 25 and 200 mg/l during the first hour after washing in 5 of the 6 women, whereas one patient showed concentrations below 25 mg/l. With the exception of one patient, all individuals showed concentrations less than 25 mg/l at 3-24 h after washing. A clear suppression of the number of colony-forming units of GBS was already apparent after 60 min and was still evident 6 h after chlorhexidine washing.
D002353:Carrier State; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000254:growth & development*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation; D014521:Urethra / Q000382:microbiology; D014621:Vagina / Q000382:microbiology*
D002710:Chlorhexidine