CHG (Chlorhexidine Gluconate) Body Wash Before Surgery
Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) is a cleaning product that kills germs. Before your scheduled surgery, your surgical team may advise you to wash your body using a CHG skin cleanser. This helps reduce your risk for a surgical site infection.
CHG gets rid of many of the germs on your skin. It helps keep your surgical site clean and lowers the chance of infection. Washing with CHG is better at preventing infections than washing with plain soap and water.
How CHG washing is done
CHG comes in different forms, including disposable cloths and liquid soap. Below are some general tips for washing your body with CHG. Follow the directions for the specific CHG product your surgical team has advised you to use.
Follow any directions from your surgical team about how often and for how many days before your surgery you need to wash with CHG.
For CHG cloths. Follow the specific instructions on the package. In general:
-
Before using a CHG cloth, first take a normal bath or shower using your regular soap and shampoo.
-
Clean your body with CHG cloths from the neck down only.
-
Don’t use CHG cloths on your face, hair, genital, or rectal area.
-
Don’t shave any body part below the neck.
-
Use one cloth for each part of the body (chest, belly, arms, legs, back).
-
Wipe back and forth, but don’t scrub your skin.
-
Let your skin air dry.
-
Don’t use any makeup, powder, lotion, or deodorant on your skin.
For CHG liquid soap. Follow the specific instructions on the package. In general:
-
Before using CHG liquid soap, first take a normal bath or shower using your regular soap and shampoo. Completely rinse off.
-
Wash your body with CHG liquid soap from the neck down only.
-
Don’t use CHG liquid soap on your face, hair, genital, or rectal area.
-
Don’t shave any body part below the neck.
-
Wash your body gently for 5 minutes.
-
Wash your surgical site thoroughly.
-
Rinse the CHG soap.
-
Let your skin air dry.
-
Don’t use any makeup, powder, lotion, or deodorant on your skin.
Let your healthcare provider know right away if washing with CHG feels uncomfortable, or if you have any skin irritation. Some people may have an allergic reaction to CHG. If that happens, your provider will decide if you need to stop using CHG.
Air dry after using CHG
After washing with CHG, let your skin air dry. Don’t use a towel to dry off. It's important not to wipe off the CHG after washing with it. Your skin may feel sticky for a few minutes, but don’t rinse off with water. When your skin is completely dry, the sticky feeling should go away.
Risks of CHG body wash
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 serious and sometimes life-threatening allergic reaction (anaphylactic reaction)
Your risks may differ depending on your age, your overall health, and other factors.
A CHG body wash might not be right for you if you have serious skin problems or conditions, skin irritation, broken or cut skin, or burns. Your healthcare provider will decide if washing with CHG is advised for you. Always talk with your provider about any concerns.
When to call your healthcare provider
Call your healthcare provider right away if: