No chlorhexidine scrubbing at home anymore?

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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?
 

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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.

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Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

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

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