CHG (Chlorhexidine Gluconate) Body Wash Before Surgery

Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) is a skin cleanser that kills germs. Your surgery team may tell you to wash your body with a CHG cleanser before surgery because it gets rid of a large number of germs on your skin. This helps keep your surgical site clean and reduces your risk of an infection.

CHG comes in different forms. Two common forms are disposable cloths and liquid soap. Follow all directions for the CHG product your surgery team has told you to use. Below are some tips to help.

Your surgery team will tell you:

• Which type of CHG cleanser to use.
• How often to wash with CHG.
• How many days before surgery to wash with CHG.

Below are common procedural steps for CHG cloths and CHG liquid soap. Your surgery team will let you know if any of these steps need to be changed. Always follow your care team's instructions.

Follow the instructions on the package. In general:

1. Wash your body, face, and hair as usual before using the CHG wipes.
2. Use one cloth for each part of your body, starting at your neck and moving downward. Follow this order:
   • Cloth 1: Neck, shoulders, and chest. Avoid your face and keep the wipes out of your eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.
   • Cloth 2: Both arms and hands. Start at your shoulder and end at your fingertips. Remember to wipe your armpits and between your fingers.
   • Cloth 3: Belly, groin and perineum. Follow your care team's instructions on use in your genital area.
   • Cloth 4: Right leg and foot. Remember to wipe between your toes.
   • Cloth 5: Left leg and foot. Remember to wipe between your toes.
   • Cloth 6: Back of neck, back, and then rear end (buttocks). Follow your care team's instructions on use in your rectal area.
3. Talk to your care team if some areas are too hard to reach.
4. Let your skin air-dry completely. Your skin may feel sticky or even itchy. That feeling should go away after your skin dries.
5. Don't use any makeup, powder, lotion, or deodorant on your skin.
6. Dress in clean clothes.

Follow the instructions on the package. In general:

1. Wash your body, face, and hair as usual. Don't shave any body part below the neck. Rinse off fully.
2. Turn off the water, and wash with CHG soap. Start from your neck down. Avoid your face and keep the soap out of your eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Follow your care team's instructions on use in your genital and rectal areas.
3. Wash your body. Wash your surgical site well. Let the soap stay on your skin as long as instructed.
4. Turn the water back on and rinse off the CHG soap.
5. Let your skin air dry, or dry off with a clean towel. Your skin may feel sticky for a few minutes. But don't rinse off with more water. When your skin is fully dry, the sticky feeling should go away.
6. Don't use any makeup, powder, lotion, or deodorant on your skin.
7. Dress in clean clothes.

Washing with CHG is generally safe. Some possible side effects may include:

• Skin rash (usually mild).
• Skin dryness.
• Allergic reaction (in rare cases).
• In very rare cases, a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

Your risks may differ. This depends on your age, your health, and other factors.

Let your doctor know right away if you have any skin irritation. Some people may have an allergic reaction to CHG. If that happens, your doctor will tell you if you need to stop using CHG.

A CHG body wash might not be right for you if you have:

• Serious skin conditions.
• Skin irritation.
• Broken or cut skin.
• Burns.

Your doctor will decide if washing with CHG is okay for you. Always talk with your doctor if you have any concerns.

Contact your doctor right away if:

• You are unsure about how to use CHG.
• Washing with CHG feels uncomfortable.
• You have skin irritation after washing with CHG.
• You have an allergic reaction.