title: Allergy to chlorhexidine: beware of the central venous catheter.
abstract: The example reported here illustrates the frequent belief that "innocent" products such as central venous catheters do not produce allergic reactions. However, they might be impregnated with chlorhexidine and elicit serious life-threatening anaphylaxis in patients with allergy to this antiseptic agent.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, Department of Immunology - Allergology - Rheumatology, University of Antwerp, Antwerpen, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faber
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leysen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bridts
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sabato
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: De Clerck
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Ebo
mesh_terms: D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000009:adverse effects*; D062905:Central Venous Catheters / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002710:Chlorhexidine