- Residues from chlorhexidine, a widely used hospital disinfect, linger on surfaces for longer than 24 hours
- Too low to kill the microbes, residue concentrations can help microbes build tolerance
- In samples collected from an ICU, about 35% of bacteria showed tolerance to chlorhexidine
- Scientists found tolerant bacteria on the top of doorsills, suggesting microbes spread through airborne particles
EVANSTON, Ill. — Just because a topical antiseptic is swabbed on the skin doesn’t mean it stays on the skin.
In a new study, Northwestern University scientists studied how a powerful antiseptic, called chlorhexidine, affects bacteria in hospital environments. To prevent infections, hospitals heavily rely on chlorhexidine wipes to…