title: Chlorhexidine Anaphylaxis Masquerading as Septic Shock.
abstract: Chlorhexidine is a commonly used antiseptic and disinfectant in the health-care setting. Its usage has increased in recent years with intensive campaigns and infection control guidelines to combat hospital-acquired infections. As a result, patients and health-care workers (HCW) are exposed to increasing chlorhexidine usage. In recent years, adverse reactions to chlorhexidine ranging from allergic contact dermatitis, photosensitivity, fixed drug eruptions, urticaria and anaphylactic shock have been reported. Most have been isolated case reports on adverse reactions occurring in healthy individuals or HCW. We report a case of anaphylactic shock caused by applying chlorhexidine cleansing solution and masquerading as septic shock from left-leg necrotising fasciitis.
authors.affiliation: University Orthopaedics, Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery Cluster, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Choon Chiet
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Siew May
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Aziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nather
authors.forename: Jiong Hao
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Sen Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tay
authors.forename: Keah How
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Poon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000707:Anaphylaxis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000276:immunology*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000276:immunology*; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests; D014581:Urticaria
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002710:Chlorhexidine