Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development

The skin is the largest organ on our body which is not sterile but thousands of bacteria live on skin permanently. Bathing with various antiseptic solutions are practiced at hospital setting to remove all these microorganisms. Chlorhexidine wipes are the most commonly used medicated bath at hosptals. Though bathing with these medicated wipes are efficient in removing microorganisms than standard bathing with soap and water, the maintenance of skin health status of the individual need to be considered.

To assess the effectiveness of chlorhexidine, saline and standard bath on skin health status.

An experimental was conducted among 102 subjects, selected using consecutive sampling and were randomly allocated to three groups (chlorhexidine, saline and standard bath). Skin health status of all subjects were assessed before, 2hrs and 24 hrs after the intervention by an individual who is blinded to the intervention using Neonatal skin assessment score.

The mean skin health status scores were 3.03, 3.12, 3.03 at 2hrs 3.00, 3.06, and 3.00 at 24 hours in chlorhexidine, saline and standard bath respectively and were almost the same after the intervention in all three groups. This finding indicated that chlorhexidine and saline did not make any difference in the skin condition.

The present study supports the use of chlorhexidine, and saline wipes in children since it didn't cause any adverse reactions, yet other studies conducted in neonates and infants alerts the health care professionals in using all these antiseptic wipes in children.