Pre-operative Bathing

How to stop infections

This hospital is working to prevent infections. You can help lower the risk of infection by cleaning your child’s skin the evening before surgery. 

You will use: 

• Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) wipes or
• Soap and water

Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) wipes 

CHG lowers the number of germs on your child’s skin. It also lowers your child’s risk of infection. 

• For most children, we will give you CHG wipes at the visit before your child’s surgery.
• Call the clinic if you did not get CHG wipes. 

You will clean your child’s skin the evening before their surgery. Your child may do more CHG wipes at the hospital before their surgery. 

Tell your child’s care team if your child: 

• Is allergic to CHG.
• Has had a reaction to CHG in the past (skin that was red, itchy, or burning for more than 30 minutes after using CHG). 

Soap and water 

You will do a bath with soap and water instead of CHG if your child: 

• Is allergic to CHG.
• Has had a reaction to CHG in the past.
• Is too young for CHG (The care team will let you know if your child is too young). 

Please ask your child’s care team if you have any questions.

How do I clean my child with soap and water if they cannot use the CHG wipes? 

1. Wash your child’s body with a new bar of soap or new bottle of liquid anti-bacterial soap, like Dial®, in a shower or bath. 
   • Wash between skin rolls or folds.
2. Wash your child’s hair with shampoo.
3. Rinse your child’s body well with water.
4. Dry with a clean towel.
5. Do not put on any deodorants, lotions, creams, or oils after the shower or bath.
    • Baby wipes are okay to use to clean after dirty diapers.
6. Dress your child in clean, comfortable clothes. 

How do I clean my child with CHG wipes? 

1. Wash your child’s body with a new bar of soap or new bottle of liquid anti-bacterial soap, like Dial®, in a shower or bath. 
   • Wash between skin rolls or folds.
2. Wash your child’s hair with shampoo.
3. Rinse your child’s body well with water.
4. Dry with a clean towel.
5. Wipe your child with the wipes using the table and pictures below:

• Do not use the CHG wipes on your child’s face, eyes, ears, nose, or mouth. Do not use on any wounds or deep scrapes. If exposed, rinse with water right away.
• Do not scrub the skin too hard.
• CHG wipes have built-in moisturizers. Their skin may feel sticky for a few minutes.
• Do not wash your child with their normal soap after using the CHG wipes.
• Do not rinse or wipe their body with water after using the CHG wipes.
• Do not put on any deodorants, lotions, creams, or oils after the shower or bath. They might block how the CHG works.

6. Throw away the wipes in the trash can. Do not flush them in the toilet. 

7. Put clean, comfortable clothing on your child. What are side effects of CHG? 

• Dryness
• Hives
• Itching
• Redness
• Sensitivity 

These side effects should go away quickly. Rinse the CHG off your child’s skin if they have any skin irritation (redness, itching, or burning).