Text: What makes CHG the standard of care antimicrobial agent?

What Makes CHG the Standard of Care Antimicrobial Agent?

What is chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG)? Chlorhexidine, first described in 1954, is now the standard of care topical broad-spectrum biocide in the prevention of healthcare-associated infections, with bacteriostatic properties at low concentrations, and bactericidal properties at higher concentrations. It exhibits activity against gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, some enveloped viruses, and fungi, and demonstrates longer-lasting residual effects…

Text: Improving Vascular Access Dressing Integrity Without Increased Skin Injury Risk

Improving Vascular Access Dressing Integrity Without Increased Skin Injury Risk

Maintaining Dressing Integrity to Prevent Infection Maintaining clean, dry, intact dressings over vascular access devices (VADs) is fundamental to site care. The 2021 Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice recommend that transparent dressings be changed at least every 7 days. However, if the dressing is disrupted ‐ meaning loose, wet, or soiled – the standards recommend…

Mechanical Circulatory Support: The Importance of Driveline Exit Site Care

Mechanical Circulatory Support to Manage Heart Failure Heart failure is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality that affects approximately 26 million patients worldwide, with rates continuing to climb.¹ Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is an intervention to manage heart failure, often serving as bridge to transplantation (BTT) by providing acceptable quality of life for patients…