Comparison of hexachlorophane and chlorhexidine powders in prevention of neonatal infection.
The protective effect of treating the skin of newborn infants with powders containing 1% chlorhexidine or 0.33% hexachlorophane was compared. Each was equally effective in preventing colonisation and infection by Staphylococcus aureus. In contrast, the skin became profusely colonised by coagulase-negative staphylococci, irrespective of the powder used. Venous blood concentrations of chlorhexidine were low or undetectable in the few infants whose blood was analysed.
D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006582:Hexachlorophene / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011208:Powders; D012874:Skin Diseases, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control
D011208:Powders; D006582:Hexachlorophene; D002710:Chlorhexidine