Authors' recommendations: The question at issue was studied in seven RCTs and three cohort studies. Drawbacks of the included studies were that the time of follow-up was often short and only two cohort studies investigated implant infections, a more critical outcome than SSI in general. All included studies had some or major limitations regarding blinding, definition of outcomes, length of follow up and heterogeneity of patient populations. The current systematic review shows that preoperative CHX compared with placebo showering/bathing may be associated with little or no difference in SSI in patients undergoing "clean" surgery. For all other comparisons the certainty of evidence was very low. The confidence interval of the pooled effect estimate includes a negative effect and there is a need for further large studies.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2015

URL for published report: https://www2.sahlgrenska.se/upload/SU/HTA-centrum/HTA-rapporter/HTA-report%20Chlorhexidine%20wash%20prior%20to%20clean%20surgical%20procedures%20incl%20app%202015-11-12.pdf

URL for additional information: http://www.sahlgrenska.se/sv/SU/Forskning/HTA-centrum/Hogerkolumn-undersidor/Publicerade-rapporter/

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Organisation Name: The Regional Health Technology Assessment Centre

Contact Address: The Regional Health Technology Assessment Centre, Region Vastra Gotaland, HTA-centrum, Roda Straket 8, Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhuset, 413 45 GOTHENBORG, Sweden

Contact Name: hta-centrum@vgregion.se

Contact Email: hta-centrum@vgregion.se

Copyright: The Regional Health Technology Assessment Centre (HTA-centrum), Region Vastra Gotaland