Is IPA-CHG safe for neonatal surgery?

Topic overview

Another Article you should know by Cecilia Gigena 

"Optimizing skin antisepsis for neonatal Surgery: A quality improvement initiave" Sophie Carr et.al.

Full article: https://www.jpedsurg.org/article/S0022-3468(22)00200-7/pdf

Authors: Sophie Carr, Carmina Gogal, Kourosh Afshar, Joseph Ting, Erik Skarsgard

Abstract

Purpose

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a significant determinant of morbidity in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Chlorhexidine gluconate/isopropyl alcohol (CHG-IPA) skin prep has demonstrated superiority over Povidone-Iodine (PI) in preventing SSIs in adults, however FDA labeling discourages CHG use in infants <2 months. This project aimed to i) create evidence for safe CHG skin antisepsis in neonates; and ii) evaluate the safety and effectiveness of CHG skin prep for neonatal surgery.

Methods

A literature review was conducted to assess the safety and effectiveness of neonatal CHG skin antisepsis. Following stakeholder engagement, a CHG surgical skin prep protocol and validated neonatal skin integrity tool to assess prep-associated skin injury were implemented in 50 consecutive, eligible neonates ≥1500 g and ≥34 weeks post conceptual age undergoing abdominal or thoracic surgery. SSI rates were compared to a matched, historical PI skin prep cohort.

Results

2%CHG-70%IPA or 0.5%CHG-70%IPA were used based on gestational age cutoffs. None of the CHG patients experienced adverse skin prep outcomes while 8% developed SSIs, compared to 14% in the historical PI cohort.

Conclusion

This project engaged NICU stakeholders in quality improvement work and informed the implementation of a safe and effective CHG skin prep protocol for neonatal surgery.

Intended audience: Healthcare professionals and clinicians.