70 Chlorhexidine Gluconate for Burn Wound Cleansing: Reduction in Multi-drug Resistant Organism Acquisition

Abstract Introduction Daily wound care is an important part of burn wound management to help prevent infection. Literature suggests that daily Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) bathing can reduce the risk of acquiring Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms (MDRO). The purpose of this study was to identify change in overall MDRO acquisition in the Burn Unit with the addition of a 1% CHG solution for wound care to the CHG bathing protocol for burn patients. Methods Prior to March 2018, routine bathing and wound care involved use of CHG-incompatible antibacterial soap and water followed by 2% chlorhexidine gluconate cloths to intact skin. In March 2018, the bathing protocol changed, in consultation with the hospital’s infection prevention program, to involve a 1% CHG solution for burn wounds followed by 2% CHG cloths to intact skin in order to prevent the loss of protective residual CHG due to rinsing with CHG-incompatible soap and water. A solution of 1% CHG was chosen by staff as an acceptable concentration for wound bathing. Adherence was measured through review of daily documentation of bathing in the electronic medical record. Incidences of burn unit-attributable hospital-onset MDRO cultures were reviewed for the following periods: Baseline (Aug 2016-Aug 2017), Phase-In (Sept 2017 – Aug 2018) and Post-Implementation (Sept 2018 – Aug 2019). Results Adherence was >85% throughout the intervention period. No adverse events were noted. Incidences of hospital-onset burn unit MDROs during the following time periods were: 22 cases (Baseline), 15 cases (Phase-In), and 10 cases (Post-Implementation). The most common organisms in the baseline period were Extended-Spectrum b-Lactamase (ESBL) Escherichia coli, MRSA, and Multi Drug Resistant Pseudomonas; and post-implementation, the most common organisms were: MRSA and MDR-Pseudomonas. Conclusions A change to a 1% CHG solution for rinsing burn wounds in the setting of 2% CHG cloths to intact skin was well tolerated and associated with a decline in MDRO acquisition attributable to the burn ICU in the one-year post implementation. Applicability of Research to Practice The use of a 1% CHG solution for burn wounds may help prevent MDRO acquisition in the highly susceptible and unique burn population.