Uses and Applications of Chlorhexidine
- Disinfectant and antiseptic
- Skin disinfection before surgery
- Sterilization of surgical instruments
- Cleaning wounds
- Prevention of dental plaque
- Topical use for surgical scrubs, skin wounds, and preoperative skin preparation
- Dental use for reducing plaque build-up and improving mild gingivitis
- Veterinary uses for topical disinfection of wounds and managing skin infections in animals
- Use in the dairy farming industry
- Use as eye drops for Acanthamoeba keratitis
- Reduction of incidence of omphalitis and neonatal mortality
- Use as a disinfectant in industrial settings
- Use as an ingredient in dental products

Antiseptic Properties of Chlorhexidine
- Active against Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms
- Effective against facultative anaerobes, aerobes, and yeasts
- Particularly effective against Gram-positive bacteria
- Ineffective against polioviruses and adenoviruses
- More effective than povidone-iodine for clean surgery

Side Effects and Precautions of Chlorhexidine
- Ototoxicity if put into a ruptured eardrum
- Does not meet European specifications for hand disinfectant
- Daily bathing with chlorhexidine reduces the risk of hospital-acquired infections
- Prolonged use may have carcinogenic potential
- Stomach irritation or nausea if ingested, high concentration can be fatal if aspirated into lungs
- Corneal damage when there is eye contact
- Discoloration of teeth and tongue
- Biocompatibility issues with dental materials

Benefits of Chlorhexidine
- Reduces the risk of hospital-acquired infections in intensive care unit patients
- Effective in reducing plaque and preventing dental caries
- Used as a preoperative mouthwash to reduce oral bacteria
- Provides antimicrobial activity against a wide range of microorganisms
- Used for wound management in veterinary medicine

Chemical Properties, History, and Research on Chlorhexidine
- Chemical formula: C22H30Cl2N10
- Molecular weight: 505.44 g/mol
- Soluble in water and alcohol
- Exhibits both bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties
- Forms complexes with bacterial cell membranes, disrupting their integrity
- First synthesised in the 1950s
- Initial studies focused on its antiplaque activity
- Extensive research on its antimicrobial properties and clinical applications
- Ongoing research to explore new formulations and uses of chlorhexidine
- Widely used and studied in various medical and dental fields

Chlorhexidine (Wikipedia)

Chlorhexidine is a disinfectant and antiseptic with the molecular formula C₂₂H₃₀Cl₂N₁₀, which is used for skin disinfection before surgery and to sterilize surgical instruments. It is also used for cleaning wounds, preventing dental plaque, treating yeast infections of the mouth, and to keep urinary catheters from blocking. It is used as a liquid or a powder. It is commonly used in salt form, either the gluconate or the acetate.

Chlorhexidine

Clinical data
Pronunciation	klɔː(r)ˈhɛksɪdiːn
Trade names	Betasept, ChloraPrep, Chlorostat, others
Other names	CHX, CHG, 1,6-bis(4-chloro-phenylbiguanido)hexane
AHFS/Drugs.com	Monograph
License data	US DailyMed: Chlorhexidine
Pregnancy category	AU: A
Routes of administration	Topical
ATC code	A01AB03 (WHO) B05CA02 (WHO), D08AC02 (WHO), D09AA12 (WHO) (dressing), R02AA05 (WHO), S01AX09 (WHO), S02AA09 (WHO), S03AA04 (WHO)
Legal status
Legal status	AU: S5, S6, S7 US: OTC / Rx-only
Identifiers
IUPAC name N,N′′′′1,6-Hexanediylbis[N′-(4-chlorophenyl)(imidodicarbonimidic diamide)]
CAS Number	55-56-1 Y
PubChem CID	9552079
DrugBank	DB00878 Y
ChemSpider	2612 Y
UNII	R4KO0DY52L
KEGG	D07668 Y
ChEBI	CHEBI:3614 Y
ChEMBL	ChEMBL790 Y
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID2033314
ECHA InfoCard	100.000.217
Chemical and physical data
Formula	C22H30Cl2N10
Molar mass	505.45 g·mol−1
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
Melting point	134 to 136 °C (273 to 277 °F)
Solubility in water	0.8
SMILES Clc1ccc(NC(=N)NC(=N)NCCCCCCNC(=N)NC(=N)Nc2ccc(Cl)cc2)cc1
InChI InChI=1S/C22H30Cl2N10/c23-15-5-9-17(10-6-15)31-21(27)33-19(25)29-13-3-1-2-4-14-30-20(26)34-22(28)32-18-11-7-16(24)8-12-18/h5-12H,1-4,13-14H2,(H5,25,27,29,31,33)(H5,26,28,30,32,34) Y Key:GHXZTYHSJHQHIJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Y
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Side effects may include skin irritation, tooth discoloration, and allergic reactions, although the risk appears to be the same as other topical antiseptics. Chlorhexidine rinse is also known to have a bitter metallic aftertaste. Rinsing with water is not recommended as it is known to increase the bitterness. It may cause eye problems if direct contact occurs. Use in pregnancy appears to be safe. Chlorhexidine may come mixed in alcohol, water, or surfactant solution. It is effective against a range of microorganisms, but does not inactivate spores.

Chlorhexidine came into medical use in the 1950s. Chlorhexidine is available over the counter in the United States. It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines. In 2020, it was the 273rd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 1 million prescriptions.