Edmiston. "If you let it sit on the skin for about a minute before rins-
ing, it will get the highest sustainable concentration — a thousand
parts per million, which is more than sufficient."
Dr. Edmiston emphasizes CHG must be used at the appropriate dose
and with the proper application process. He says researchers at
Northwestern University found that providing surgical patients with
written instructions about how to properly apply CHG during the
baths and the supplies to do it at clinic visits decreased SSI rates from
18% to 4%, documented proof that an evidence-based pre-op bathing
strategy works in the real world.
Concerns about possible emergence of resistance with repetitive
use of CHG are largely unfounded, according to Dr. Edmiston. "There
are studies that suggest we should be concerned about the potential
for emergence of resistance, but the data to date do not show there is
a problem."
The risk of severe allergic reaction to CHG is extremely low, accord-
ing to Dr. Edmiston, who says, "I feel very comfortable that we're doing
the right thing for patients by implementing pre-admission shower
strategies using a standardized process."
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