Biguanides

Chlorhexidine is a widely used biocide in antiseptic and disinfectant products. It has broad spectrum efficacy and is much less irritating to tissue than other products. Chlorhexidine activity is pH dependent and is greatly impaired in the presence of organic material. Chlorhexidine is bactericidal and fungicidal to a wide variety of organisms but please consult the product labeling! Protozoal trophozoites are affected with cysts being less sensitive. It is infective against mycobacteria and it is not sporicidal. Its antiviral activities are restricted to the lipid-enveloped viruses. Chlorhexidine does not inactivate nonenveloped viruses such as rotavirus, hepatitis A virus, or poliovirus.

BASED UPON THE DISCUSSION ABOVE, YOU CAN SEE THAT CHLORHEXIDINE WILL NOT STERILIZE INSTRUMENTS. IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT CONCENTRATION OR HOW LONG OF A CONTACT TIME YOU USE!

Chlorhexidine is available as a solution and as a scrub. At UAF we use a chlorhexidine based scrub for hand washing prior to surgery, for hand washing after necropsies, and for preparing the skin for surgery when povidone iodine is contra-indicated. We also use dilute chlorhexidine solution as an antiseptic to clean superficial skin wounds and as a disinfectant for surfaces in the surgery suite and in many laboratories. Caution: we have found that chlorhexidine solutions can be very irritating and cause a severe granulomatous reaction if used to flush abscesses in reindeer or caribou.

FOLLOW THE DILUTION INSTRUCTIONS ON THE LABELING. USE OF MORE CONCENTRATED DILUTIONS THAN THOSE RECOMMENDED ON THE LABELING IS A WASTE OF MONEY AND DOES NOT INCREASE THE CHEMICALS EFFICACY.

ALWAYS READ THE LABEL OF ANY COMPOUND YOU ARE ABOUT TO USE.

Last modified on Friday, June 22, 2001 5:00 PM by John Blake