Hibiclens
(Chlorhexidine Gluconate Solution 4.0% w/v)
Recently my husband had to have surgery at an outpatient surgery center. As with any surgery, prior to the surgery; the Doctor gives you a list of things of what to do and what not to do, before your operation.
Now mind you, this was only my husband’s fifth surgery versus my almost twenty. (Not that it’s a competition!)
However, with this surgery, came a new addition to the list of items to do. This would be where the Hibiclens came into the picture.
The instructions typed up by the Doctors office themselves stated: the morning of the surgery wash your entire body with this solution, and wash it thoroughly especially your surgical site. Do not rewash with your own soap, and then pat yourself dry, and get dressed in loose fitting clothing.
Our thoughts on this were: Please tell us they are still planning on re-washing or sterilizing the surgical site again before the procedure! We didn’t see how this could remain sanitary until we arrived at the surgery center. Now, we aren’t saying our house isn’t clean or perfect, but the clean laundry was man handled by me. Who says I didn’t have a germ on my hand and it jump onto the laundry? These are the things that went through our minds.
Maybe we seem paranoid, but MRSA is not something to just make fun of Hospitals about. It is real, and once you’ve been through it, you are much more cautious to the germs surrounding your life. Trust me when I say, it’s not something you want to experience, first hand.
Be that as it may, this wasn’t our only concern with the Hibiclens product. My husband said it didn’t lather, and it was like “washing with kerosene. It’s greasy, doesn’t lather, and just sits there and does nothing.” Those are his exact words. And it was the next day after his surgery, that we noticed that the shower curtain was greasy, and slimy from the Hibiclens. So we tried to wash it, dry it out, and clean it up. It never seemed to dry, and never cleaned up, needless to say, we threw the shower curtain away. So the tid bit here, be forewarned, it damages shower curtains!
According to the bottle of Hibiclens, it states that it does in fact stain. And it can even stain the body. It also states that the product works for up to six hours killing residual germ activity. It also states that it is unaffected by blood.
As with any product, it has a toll free number. It is 1-800-843-8497.
The label also states that Hibiclens is fast-acting, broad-spectrum antimicrobial skin cleanser. It also prevents skin infections thereby reducing the risk of cross-infection. Hibiclens also states it is gentle to the skin.
Hibiclens says it is great for: hand washing, general and skin wound cleanser, pre-surgical skin prep and as a surgical hand scrub.
We bought our bottle of Hibiclens from Walgreens for $10.48. It was located in the medical supply section where you find band aids and gauzes. The bottle comes in a box; it is a dark turquoise color, with a light turquoise or mint green. There are eight fluid ounces in it. It has a scent to it, but it isn’t too bad. It kind of smells like an antacid.
Hibiclens advises you not to use this product if you’re allergic to chlorhexide gluconate or any other ingredients listed in the product itself. They also advise you not to use it on your head, face or genital area.
If you are smart, you will have your doctor write you a prescription for this product, if he advises you to get it. It will then be up to your insurance whether or not if they choose to cover it.
The reason I decided to write a review on this product, is because several people never heard of it, including some of the pharmacy staff at Walgreens. And because people need to know that it is damaging to your own surfaces- such as your shower curtain!
I also found it newsworthy because as many times as the nursing staff had to stab my husband to get the IV into him, and he didn’t come down with any staph infection or MRSA, that maybe this product just might have something to do with it! After all, maybe it did in fact- do its job just as it stated it would.
Therefore, in my honest opinion, if a Doctor suggests or advises you to get or even do Hibiclens, for whatever reason. I think you should listen. Obviously this is something they actually do know something about!
