Safety and efficacy of whole-body chlorhexidine gluconate cleansing with or without emollient in hospitalised neonates (NeoCHG): a multicentre, randomised, open-label, factorial pilot trial
Healthcare-associated infections account for substantial neonatal in-hospital mortality. Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) whole body skin application could reduce sepsis by lowering bacterial colonisation density, although safety and optimal application regimen is unclear. Emollients, including sunflower oil, may independently improve skin condition, thereby reducing sepsis. We aimed to inform which concentration and frequency of CHG, with or without emollient, would best balance safety and the surrogate marker of efficacy of reduction in bacterial colonisation, to be taken forward in a future pragmatic trial evaluating clinical outcomes of sepsis and mortality.
Authors
Neal Russell, Michelle N. Clements, Kazi Shammin Azmery, Adrie Bekker, Julia Bielicki, Angela Dramowski, Sally Ellis, Aaqilah Fataar, Mahbubul Hoque, Kristen LeBeau, Seamus O’Brien, Francesca Schiavone, Peter Skoutari, Mohammad Shahidul Islam, Samir K. Saha, Ann Sarah Walker, Andrew Whitelaw, Michael Sharland