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Chlorhexidine Resistance in Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Isolated From the Surfaces of Dispensers of Soap Containing Chlorhexidine

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Steven E. Brooks*
Affiliation:
Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
Mary A. Walczak
Affiliation:
Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
Rizwanullah Hameed
Affiliation:
Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
Patrick Coonan
Affiliation:
Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
*
Department of Infection Control/Chief, Division of Clinical Microbiology, Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, 585 Schenectady Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203

Abstract

Bacterial contamination with pan-resistant Acinetobacter and Klebsiella, multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was noted on the surfaces of dispensers of hand soap with 2% chlorhexidine. Gram-negative isolates could multiply in the presence of 1% chlorhexidine. In contrast, MRSA was inhibited in vitro by chlorhexidine at concentrations as low as 0.0019%.

Type
Concise Communications
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2002

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