Chlorhexidine[1] is a disinfectant and antiseptic with the molecular formula C22H30Cl2N10, which is used for skin disinfection before surgery and to sterilize surgical instruments.[2] It is also used for cleaning wounds, preventing dental plaque, treating yeast infections of the mouth, and to keep urinary catheters from blocking.[3] It is used as a liquid or a powder.[2][3] It is commonly used in salt form, either the gluconate[4] or the acetate.[5]
Side effects may include skin irritation, tooth discoloration, and allergic reactions,[3] although apart from discoloration the risk appears to be the same as povidone-iodine.[6][7] Chlorhexidine rinse is also known to have a bitter metallic aftertaste. Rinsing with water is not recommended as it is known to increase the bitterness.[8] It may cause eye problems if direct contact occurs.[9][10] Use in pregnancy appears to be safe.[11] Chlorhexidine may come mixed in alcohol,[12][13][14] water, or surfactant solution.[3] It is effective against a range of microorganisms, but does not inactivate spores.[2]
Chlorhexidine came into medical use in the 1950s.[15] Chlorhexidine is available over the counter in the United States.[9] It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[16][17] In 2021, it was the 247th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 1million prescriptions.[18][19]
^Varoni E, Tarce M, Lodi G, Carrassi A (September 2012). "Chlorhexidine (CHX) in dentistry: state of the art". Minerva Stomatologica. 61 (9): 399–419. PMID 22976567. Archived from the original on 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
^ abcWorld Health Organization (2009). Stuart MC, Kouimtzi M, Hill SR (eds.). WHO Model Formulary 2008. World Health Organization. pp. 321–22. hdl:10665/44053. ISBN 9789241547659.
^ abcdBritish national formulary : BNF 69 (69 ed.). British Medical Association. 2015. pp. 568, 791, 839. ISBN 9780857111562.
^"Chlorhexidine Gluconate". PubChem. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
^"Chlorhexidine Acetate". PubChem. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
^Wade RG, Bourke G, Wormald JC, Totty JP, Stanley GH, Lewandowski A, et al. (November 2021). "Chlorhexidine versus povidone-iodine skin antisepsis before upper limb surgery (CIPHUR): an international multicentre prospective cohort study". BJS Open. 5 (6): zrab117. doi:10.1093/bjsopen/zrab117. PMC 8677347. PMID 34915557.
^Wade RG, Burr NE, McCauley G, Bourke G, Efthimiou O (December 2021). "The Comparative Efficacy of Chlorhexidine Gluconate and Povidone-iodine Antiseptics for the Prevention of Infection in Clean Surgery: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis". Annals of Surgery. 274 (6): e481–e488. doi:10.1097/SLA.0000000000004076. PMID 32773627. S2CID 225289226.
^"Chlorhexidine (Oral Route) Precautions - Mayo Clinic". www.mayoclinic.org. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
^ ab"Chlorhexidine Gluconate topical". The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
^Tabor E, Bostwick DC, Evans CC (January 1989). "Corneal damage due to eye contact with chlorhexidine gluconate". JAMA. 261 (4): 557–558. doi:10.1001/jama.1989.03420040091021. PMID 2909794.
^Briggs GG, Freeman RK, Yaffe SJ (2011). Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 252. ISBN 9781608317080. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017.
^"Prevantics Swab- chlorhexidine gluconate and isopropyl alcohol solution". DailyMed. 26 October 2022. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
^"Prevantics Swab- chlorhexidine gluconate and isopropyl alcohol solution". DailyMed. 26 October 2022. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
^"Prevantics Maxi Swabstick- chlorhexidine gluconate and isopropyl alcohol solution". DailyMed. 26 October 2022. Archived from the original on 24 January 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
^Schmalz G, Bindslev DA (2008). Biocompatibility of Dental Materials. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 351. ISBN 9783540777823. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017.
^World Health Organization (2019). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 21st list 2019. Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/325771. WHO/MVP/EMP/IAU/2019.06. License: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
^World Health Organization (2021). World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 22nd list (2021). Geneva: World Health Organization. hdl:10665/345533. WHO/MHP/HPS/EML/2021.02.
^"The Top 300 of 2021". ClinCalc. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
^"Chlorhexidine - Drug Usage Statistics". ClinCalc. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
Chlorhexidine is a disinfectant and antiseptic with the molecular formula C22H30Cl2N10, which is used for skin disinfection before surgery and to sterilize...
the beneficial effects of chlorhexidine. Chlorhexidine mouthwash can also cause taste disturbance or alteration. Chlorhexidine is rarely associated with...
the skin before injections, among other uses. Diguanides including chlorhexidine gluconate, a bacteriocidal antiseptic which (with an alcoholic solvent)...
disinfectants and anti-plaque agents like triclosan and chlorhexidine gluconate. Mouthrinses containing chlorhexidine was with maximum antibacterial activity, while...
in reducing plaque and gingivitis-inflammation. In combination with chlorhexidine and zinc lactate, CPC has been found to be effective in treating halitosis...
linear. Otherwise, gargling salt water and manual removal may be tried. Chlorhexidine or cetylpyridinium chloride may also be tried. Surgical treatment may...
personal care products with the active ingredients of cetrimide and chlorhexidine gluconate. Commonly sold as a cream, the product range also includes...
flossing. Tentative evidence supports the use of mouthwash containing chlorhexidine or cetylpyridinium chloride. While there is tentative evidence of benefit...
concentrations of 0.1 to 2.0%.[citation needed] It is a substitute for chlorhexidine, with respect to its slow action and concerns about the carcinogenic...
so famous as a brand that it was reused for these other compounds: Chlorhexidine digluconate discovered in 1954, a solution marketed by Hypermarcas under...
(providing antiseptic, locally analgesic and antipruritic effects) and chlorhexidine digluconate 0.25%. The Germoloids line of Germolene products, intended...
ICI also introduced Savlon, which was a combination of cetrimide and chlorhexidine. ICI later sold the Savlon brand OTC to Johnson & Johnson in May 1992...
including providone-iodine, chlorhexidine, alcohol based solutions, and cetrimide. There is strong evidence that chlorhexidine and denatured alcohol use...
(n=12) 1998 RCT shows that Bocasan combined with chlorhexidine mouthwash is better than chlorhexidine alone in preventing plaque. A further study (n=28)...
vaccination: HPV and Hepatitis B vaccines reducing number of sexual partners Chlorhexidine is an antibacterial agent that covers a wide spectrum of gram-positive...
of intravascular catheters. Both chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine are acceptable skin cleansers, though chlorhexidine is preferred. For short-term CVC...
skin colony count such as scrubbing skin preparation with alcohol and chlorhexidine or kill bacteria once the implant is contaminated by skin flora such...
benzethonium chloride) and others, non-quaternary compounds, such as chlorhexidine, glucoprotamine, octenidine dihydrochloride etc.), strong oxidizers...
ingredients with similar properties. In Canada, Jean Coutu Group markets a chlorhexidine solution under the name Mercurochrome. Thiomersal, also known as Thimerosal...
launched the first product containing chlorhexidine digluconate in Germany. Since 1989, the active substance chlorhexidine digluconate has been widely used...
antiseptic like chlorhexidine does not seem to affect incidence of complications after surgery. However, washing the surgical site with chlorhexidine after surgery...
system. Efforts to prevent infections of the mouth include the use of chlorhexidine mouthwash in those with poor immune function and washing out the mouth...
mouthwash: saline (salty water), essential oils (Listerine, etc.), and chlorhexidine gluconate. Saline (warm salty water) is usually recommended after procedures...
field is cleansed and prepared by applying an antiseptic (typically chlorhexidine gluconate in alcohol, as this is twice as effective as povidone-iodine...
fragment. Some evidence suggests that rinsing with chlorhexidine (0.12% or 0.2%) or placing chlorhexidine gel (0.2%) in the sockets of extracted teeth reduces...
Winkelhoff, A. J. (2003). "The effects of a new mouthrinse containing chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium chloride and zinc lactate on the microflora of oral...
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