Randomized controlled trial on healthy volunteers of pharmacokinetic and antimicrobial activity of a novel hydrogel-containing chlorhexidine dressing to prevent catheter-related bloodstream infection.

Introduction: Catheter-related blood stream infection (CRBSI) is one of the most relevant complications associated to the use of intravascular catheters. In this context, chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) releasing dressings have been developed to reduce the catheter colonization rate and the risk of infection. The aim of this study is to analyze the release rate of CHG and the antimicrobial activity of a novel CHG-releasing dressing, Oper film protect CHG, and to compare these parameters to those of the dressing Tegaderm™ CHG in healthy volunteers.