Author: IMAC

Prevent infections during your hospital stay
SHOWER with Chlorhexidine (CHG) soap

PATIENT

During your stay, shower regularly with a special antiseptic soap (CHG) which removes germs and prevents infection better than soap and water
Protect Yourself Every Day
Reminders
CHG is proven to work better than regular soap to get rid of germs
Once massaged onto skin, CHG works to kill germs for 24 hours
Use CHG every day. Starting on the admission day works best to remove germs before IVs, lines, urinary catheters, and procedures or surgery
Be thorough. Ask for help to reach hard-to-reach areas, including backside, around devices, on wounds
CHG is safe on rashes, burns, and wounds that are not large or deep
Clean all skin areas with attention to:
Neck
All skin folds
Skin around all devices (tubes/drains)
Wounds and open skin
Armpit, groin, between fingers/toes
Take a CHG Shower
SHOWERING with CHG soap
You will be given a 4 oz CHG bottle to wash your hair, face, and body
Begin with hair and face, rinse
Apply generous amount of CHG to mesh sponge or non-cotton cloth and rub until foamy
Apply CHG with water off or stand out of water stream
Firmly massage onto skin. Clean from top down (cleanest to dirtiest areas). Reapply CHG to keep sponge foamy
Ask for help for hard-to-reach areas
For best effect, leave soapy lather on skin for 2 minutes. Rinse body well.
If needed, ask your nurse for CHG-compatible lotions to moisturize

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Avoid eyes and ear canals

* Regular soap and shampoo prevent CHG from working well. If you must use your own shampoo or face wash, use them first and try to keep the shampoo and face wash off the body so CHG will work as body soap.