Chlorhexidine is an antiseptic used to clean and disinfect skin, mucous membranes and the mouth: healthcare hand washing, skin preparation before injections and surgery, and mouthwashes for gum infections.
Also known as: Hibiscrub, Clorexidina aquosa
No documented drug–drug interactions for this medicine.
No documented food or drink interactions.
Alcoholic chlorhexidine solutions must not be used on preterm/infant skin (chemical burns and absorption).
Prefer aqueous solutions in neonates.
EMC-UK — chlorhexidine SmPC/PIL (neonatal skin).
Topical antiseptic (skin, mucosae, wounds) with negligible systemic absorption; no restrictive Annex 1 entry. It is the standard antiseptic in obstetric procedures (caesarean sections, vaginal hygiene) with long safety experience.
Compatible in all trimesters for topical use; avoid instillation into the middle ear (perforation) and application near the eyes.
Compatible; negligible absorption.
Prontuário Terapêutico INFARMED — 13.2 (Antiseptics); EMC-UK — Chlorhexidine SmPC.
Clinical and educational support tool. The information does not replace a medical prescription or the opinion of a qualified healthcare professional.
Antisepsis with prolonged residual effect (6 h+) on skin; logarithmic reduction of resident and transient skin flora.
Cationic biguanide binding anionic phospholipids of the bacterial membrane, disrupting it and leaking cytoplasm (bactericidal at high concentrations).
Topical application: not applicable (external use).
Not systemically metabolised (topical use); minimal systemic absorption through intact skin.
Not applicable (topical use; local persistence in the stratum corneum).
Medicines from the same therapeutic group (ATC classification) or the same pharmacological class.
