No chlorhexidine scrubbing at home anymore?

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Specializes in gen med surge.

What is the current scientific standpoint on having a patient do pre-surgical chlorhexidine washes at home for a planned cesarean section? I was kind of shocked that it wasn't mentioned at all. Granted, unplanned c-sections don't have the luxury of pre-planning and they happen all the time.

Thinking of how our stance on pre-surgical shaving has shifted from shave to clip to surgeon's discretion, I'm wondering if the pre-surgical washes have shifted in the same way. I can argue that iodine would dry the skin out and make the incision less likely to close properly, and that chlorhexidine is possibly the better choice to send a woman home with, but if you have the luxury of time, why not work on decreasing the native bacteria?

Whats the norm you see in OB now?
 

Specializes in Psych.

I'm not an OB nurse but had a planned c section for placenta previa in May at one of the busiest L&D units in the area.  I did not do a chlorhexadine scrub at home prior to surgery.  I was told to take a shower with my regular soap but scrub my belly for 2 minutes.

 

I was told the same thing prior to the laparosopic surgery I had in 2020 at a different hospital with a very busy OR.

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

What I've seen most recently is a wipe down on the unit prior to surgery with chlorhexadine wipes.

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