Surgeons use ChloraPrep to clean medical instruments.
Chlorhexidine operates as a chemical antiseptic which kills microbes. ChloraPrep is a name-brand product composed of 2 percent chlorohexidine gluconate (CHG), 70 percent isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and 18 percent water. IPA denatures cell proteins, while CHG disrupts microbe membranes causing cells to burst. While ChloraPrep is a popular choice as a surgical antiseptic in hospitals, some surgeons prefer to use iodine tincture.
Benefits
ChloraPrep is commonly used to sterilize medical instruments through the use of applicators which avoid hand contact. This drug may also be used to scrub the skin of a patient, so that bacteria does not enter the patient's body when an incision is made. According to a study by the Illinois Medical Center, each ChloraPrep kit costs an average of 16 cents less than an iodine tincture kit.
Warning
ChloraPrep cannot be used on children under 2 years oldof age, so iodine tincture has to be used as an antiseptic during surgery for small children. In addition, some people have allergies to CHG or IPA and can become seriously ill. ChloraPrep cannot be used as a disinfectant when conducting a lumbar (lower spine) puncture procedure or when operating on the central nervous system. This product may not be used internally and can cause serious or permanent damage if used on the eyes, ears or mouth. Open skin wounds must be treated using a general skin cleaner.
Considerations
Doctors use ChloraPrep to prevent staphylococcus and enterovirus infections that are resistant to antibiotics. ChloraPrep stays active in the blood to neutralize any viruses or bacteria attempting to enter the body through a medical incision. While general skin cleaners do not ensure protection during surgery, ChloraPrep controls microbial growth for two days. When a surgeon uses ChloraPrep, the product kills bacteria and viruses immediately, while an iodine tincture takes at least two minutes before antimicrobial activity begins, according to a study at Illinois Medical Center.
Disadvantages
During a study conducted in 2002 and 2003 at the Illinois Medical Center, patients sanitized with ChloraPrep had a slightly higher incidence of bacterial, fungal or viral contamination. Patients sanitized with ChloraPrep had a 2.9 percent incidence of infection, while those sanitized with iodine tincture had a 2.7 percent incidence of infection. Since ChloraPrep contains 70 percent IPA, the product gives off flammable vapors, which can present a fire hazard when using cauterization guns or lasers. ChloraPrep takes three minutes longer than iodine tincture to dry on the skin.
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