While patient wipes and bath cloths are already a thing of the past for advanced, progressive and modern hospitals around the world, this product is just gaining acceptance in our country among clinicians and medical product buyers. Patient wipes with chloroxedine gluconate is the only best alternative to the traditional basin baths. Giving hospital patients a medicated cloth bath is fast gaining popularity for its antimicrobial protection, more hygienic and time saving factors for nurses and hospital assistants. Here in this article we are going to share how to use this product on patients for best efficiency and effectiveness.
Using CHG Wipes During Your Hospital Stay – Education for Clinicians & Patients
During your hospital stay, you will have an antimicrobial cleanser applied to your skin if you are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), select high risk units, or in general care with central lines. This cleanser is called chlorohexidine gluconate, or CHG. CHG kills germs on skin for up to 24 hours after it is applied. This CHG cleanser comes in the form of pre-packaged cloths and will be used once a day for those who are at risk of developing a bloodstream infection.
What is a Central Line?
A central line is a tube that is placed into a large vein in your neck, chest, arm or groin.
This tube is used to give fluids or medications more effectively to the body than a regular IV. It can be left in place for several weeks. If this central line is not cared for, a bloodstream infection can occur when bacteria or other
germs travel down the tube and enter the blood.
What do hospital staff do when I have a central line?
Place the green caps with alcohol in them to protect it from germs.
Cleanse hands and wear gloves prior to giving medications.
Assess everyday if the central line is still needed so it can be removed as soon as possible
Infection Prevention and Epidemiology
How can I keep myself healthy with daily skin hygiene?
Keeping yourself healthy means having a daily bath or shower followed by an application with CHG cloths. Keeping skin clean and free of germs is one of the best ways to prevent infections while in the hospital. Your nurse or nurse-aide will assist you with the application of CHG.
These patient wipes are an important part of your daily hygiene treatment plan to help speed healing. Applying CHG daily while in the hospital can help prevent bloodstream infections. CHG can also protect you from getting antibiotic resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE).
How is the cloth containing CHG used for bathing or showering?
It is extremely important that CHG application occur daily while in the hospital for the complete antimicrobial benefits of the cleanser. You may be given a bath using regular soap and water followed by an application of the CHG cloths. CHG cloths should be used on the outside of your body from the neck down. Use regular soap and shampoo on the face and head.
How many wipes should I use?
The correct number of wipes to use is 6 for patients over 66 pounds. The nurse will use each cloth on a different part of the body. Fewer cloths may be used in children depending on their weight.
What should I expect when using CHG wipes?
Skin may feel sticky after use of the CHG cloths. This sticky feeling is due to the moisturizer in the cloths to prevent skin dryness. This feeling should go away once the skin is dry. The CHG left on the skin will continue to kill germs over time so it is important not to rinse off after being wiped with the CHG cloths. Avoid lotions because they may interfere with the antimicrobial benefits of CHG.
What can happen if I do not bathe daily?
Germs try to find every route into the body to cause an infection. Infections can range from minor skin infections to severe bloodstream infections. A severe bloodstream infection can increase your length of stay in the hospital by up to an additional 24 days and increase your chances of death by 35%. Simple things like keeping your skin clean can help prevent these types of infection.
Together, we can prevent infections and speed your rate of healing by maintaining a clean body and a clean central line.
Disclaimer: This document contains information and/or instructional materials developed by Michigan Medicine for the typical patient with your condition. It may include links to online content that was not created by Michigan Medicine and for which Michigan Medicine does not assume responsibility. It does not replace medical advice from your health care provider because your experience may differ from that of the typical patient. Talk to your health care provider if you have any questions about this document, your condition or your treatment plan.