According to the CDC, on any given day, about 1 in 31 hospital patients has an HAI.2 It’s also estimated that SSIs account for 20% of all HAIs.3
HAIs and SSIs are burdensome for both the patient and their healthcare team, often contributing to treatment complications, and prolonged hospital stays. Overall, it is also estimated that the cost of care for patients who develop an SSI is 1–3x higher than for patients who do not develop an SSI.4
THE ROLE OF SKIN INTEGRITY IN INFECTION PREVENTION
Skin integrity is a foundational element of preventing infections, yet it is easily compromised by daily clinical realities: moisture, friction, incontinence, decreased mobility, chronic illness, daily contact with the hands of multiple healthcare providers, and post-operative surgery.
Across every patient population, when the skin barrier is weakened, organisms that colonize a patient’s body gain opportunities to cause complications. In fact, research published by Ann-Kathrin Lederer and Sophia Chikhladze suggests that patients’ microbial colonization could be the main source of infection,1 underscoring the need for consistent and effective decolonization practices, especially those including CHG antiseptic skin cleansers.
WHY HOSPITAL-WIDE DECOLONIZATION MATTERS
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Horizontal decolonization strategies, especially those incorporating chlorhexidine wash (CHG), have emerged as one of the most effective, scalable interventions for reducing microorganisms on the skin.5 Since CHG has broad-spectrum activity, it has been shown to reduce infections due to Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.6 It’s also less likely to cause skin reactions compared to alternative products.7
A growing body of evidence supports the benefits of standardizing CHG use beyond perioperative care and across all hospital units.
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PRE AND POST OPERATIVE PREPARATION
Surgical protocols increasingly recommend patients shower twice withchlorhexidine gluconate solution prior to their procedure, allowing the solution to remain on the skin for at least one minute before rinsing.7
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4% CHG SOLUTIONS FOR DAILY CARE
- Unlike soap and water, 4% CHG solutions like HibiClens® bind to the skin, providing ongoing antiseptic, antimicrobial activity even after rinsing.8
- HibiClens® can also help reduce the risk of pathogens on the skin as patients move through hospital settings.8
- A study performed by Brad Krier and Pawan Bhandari suggested that patients with central-line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) were 3 times more likely to miss daily chlorhexidine baths. By implementing a routine use of 4% CHG antiseptic skin cleansers, the results showed an increase in positive outcomes for patients.9
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CHLORHEXIDINE BATHING PROGRAM
- Whole-body CHG bathing programs have been shown to reduce the patient’s bacterial load. One observational study found that when hospitals implemented standardized 4% CHG bathing protocols, supported through education and clear workflows, HAIs decreased across multiple units.10
- Bathing programs with 4% CHG antiseptic skin cleanser can reduce the occurrence of HAIs in both intensive care units and non-intensive care units hospital settings.9
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ANTISEPTIC SKIN CLEANSER EDUCATION & PRODUCT COMPATIBILITY
Consistent outcomes rely on consistent application. When nurses clean areas where the skin is compromised, such as rashes, surgical sites, wounds, medical device entry points, or peristomal skin, proper CHG application is essential. Teams must ensure that topical products used alongside CHG (e.g., lotions, creams, barrier ointments) are compatible, as some can interfere with CHG performance.
“As we see more patients developing conditions like incontinence associated dermatitis, due to extended hospital stays, it’s crucial that we continue using CHG bathing.”
- Dr. Linda Fredricks McKinley, RN, PhD, MPH, CIC, FAPIC
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THE PATIENT EXPERIENCE: AN OFTEN-UNDERESTIMATED FACTOR
High-quality hygiene care plays an important role not only in infection prevention but in patient comfort, confidence, and dignity.
Bathing routines, odor control, and the overall perceived cleanliness significantly influence the patient experience, an increasingly important metric for hospitals.
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MOVING TOWARD CONSISTENT, EVIDENCED-BASED CARE
Hospital-wide decolonization strategies supported by 4% CHG-based products like HibiClens® enable healthcare teams to deliver safer, standardized care for every patient, every day. By protecting skin integrity and reducing microbial burden, hospitals can meaningfully lower the risk of HAIs and SSIs while elevating patient comfort and supporting clinical outcomes.
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For more information and educational resources regarding infection risk mitigation, visit Molnlycke.us/solutions/Hibi or contact us at HibiUS@molnlycke.com
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References:
1. Lederer AK, Chikhladze S, Kohnert E, Huber R, Müller A. Current Insights: The Impact of Gut Microbiota on Postoperative Complications in Visceral Surgery-A Narrative Review. Diagnostics (Basel). 2021 Nov 13;11(11):2099. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics11112099. PMID: 34829446; PMCID: PMC8625751.2. About HAIs. (2025a). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthcare-associated-infections/about/index.html.
3. Surgical site Infection Event (SSI). (2026). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/pdfs/pscmanual/9pscssicurrent.pdf.
4. Calderwood, MS, et al., Anderson, D. J., Bratzler, D. W., Dellinger, E. P., Garcia-Houchins, S., Maragakis, L. L., Nyquist, A.-C., Perkins, K. M., Preas, M. A., Saiman, L., Schaffzin, J. K., Schweizer, M., Yokoe, D. S., & Kaye, K. S. (2023, May 4). Strategies to prevent surgical site infections in acute-care hospitals: 2022 update: Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology. Cambridge Core. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/infection-control-and-hospital-epidemiology/article/strategies-to-prevent-surgical-site-infections-in-acutecare-hospitals-2022-update/2F824B9ADD6066B29F89C8A2A127A9DC.
5. Abbas, S.M., Stevens, M.P. (2022). Vertical Versus Horizontal Infection Control Interventions. In: Bearman, G., Morgan, D.J., K. Murthy, R., Hota, S. (eds) Infection Prevention. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-98427-4_18.
6. Chapman, MS, RN, CIC, L., & Hargett, MPH, CIC, L. (2021). Retrieved from https://aacnjournals.org/ccnonline/article/41/5/e1/31588/Chlorhexidine-Gluconate-Bathing-Program-to-Reduce.
7. Sadakane K, et al. Effect of the hand antiseptic agents benzalkonium chloride, povidone-iodine, ethanol and chlorhexidine gluconate on atopic dermatitis in NC/Nga mice. Int J Med Sci. 2015 [cited 14 Sep 2017];12(2):116-125. URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4293176/.
8. HibiClens® 4% Antiseptic Skin Cleanser. (2026). Retrieved from https://www.molnlycke.com/en-us/us/campaign/antiseptics/hibi/hibiclens/.
9. Krier, B. A., Bhandari, P., Brooks, A. M., Schultz, K. J., Zarbano, J. J., & Anil, G. (2025). Real-time intervention to increase daily chlorhexidine bathing and reduce central line-associated bloodstream infections. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11574771/.
10. Chapman L, Hargett L, Anderson T, Galluzzo J, and Zimand, P. 2021. Chlorhexidine Gluconate Bathing Program to Reduce Health Care–Associated Infections in Both Critically Ill and Non–Critically Ill Patients. Critical Care Nurse, 41(5), pp.e1-e8.