Induced sporicidal activity of chlorhexidine against Clostridium difficile spores under altered physical and chemical conditions.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Chlorhexidine is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial commonly used to disinfect the skin of patients to reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections. Because chlorhexidine is not sporicidal, it is not anticipated that it would have an impact on skin contamination with Clostridium difficile, the most important cause of healthcare-associated diarrhea. However, although chlorhexidine is not sporicidal as it is used in healthcare settings, it has been reported to kill spores of Bacillus species under altered physical and chemical conditions that disrupt the spore's protective barriers (e.g., heat, ultrasonication, alcohol, or elevated pH). Here, we tested the hypothesis that similarly altered physical and chemical conditions result in enhanced sporicidal activity of chlorh

SUBMITTER: Nerandzic MM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4393272 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature