Prepping with Chlorhexidine

[CaliLvr000, BSN, RN]

The new facility I am working for did away with betadine scrub. They still have paint. Most of the surgeons use Chloraprep stick and I notice nurses just painting it on. The instructions say to scrub surgical site for 30 seconds, and that one sick only covers an area of a piece of binder paper. But this is not my question.

I am wondering how you prep with hibiclens/chlorhexidine soap. Say for a foot with an open ulcer. Do you use and dilute with sterile water? Scrub then blot then paint? Curious because everyone does it different. Right now I'm using it straight, scrub on, blot off then paint on like a beta beta prep. Thanks.

[ORoxyO]

When we use it we dilute with sterile water then give it a good scrub. No blotting or painting.

[TakeTwoAspirin, MSN, RN, APRN]

Both the AORN and the manufacturers of Hibiclens state pretty categorically that you should not dilute this product with anything. Dilution can negatively impact its performance, especially when dilute with sterile saline.

[ORoxyO]

Both the AORN and the manufacturers of Hibiclens state pretty categorically that you should not dilute this product with anything. Dilution can negatively impact its performance, especially when dilute with sterile saline.

I guess I should have read the instructions rather that go on what others tell me. Thanks for the info!