What is CHG?
Chlorhexidine gluconate, known as CHG, is an active substance that is widely utilized in skin antiseptic products and they possess a distinctive characteristic where it can exhibit both immediate and residual antimicrobial activities. Apart from CHG’s ability to inhibit the growth of the bacteria, it is also known to kill the bacteria, so it can be said that it has both bacteriostatic and bactericidal activities. Its antimicrobial activity occurs through the dissociation of CHG into a positively-charged molecule which can be affected by negatively-charged or uncharged molecules.
Why do you need to ensure that your product is CHG compatible?
It is important to ensure that your products are compatible with the CHG molecule and do not stop or neutralize CHG activity, resulting in the reduction of the antiseptic effect which can cause bacterial infection or worsen the wound. For example, moisturizing cream that is claimed to be ideal for severely dry skin or for diabetic foot care is used to help maintain or restore the skin’s natural moisture but at the same time should not affect the antiseptic effect of CHG, which is crucial in diabetic foot care, especially with open wounds. Hence, manufacturers should check that their products that are to be used in the healthcare industry including shampoo, lotions, barrier creams, wipes and patches are CHG-compatible in order to maintain their antimicrobial properties.
Is your product CHG-compatible?
In order for you to understand your formulation’s compatibility with CHG, TECOLAB is capable of customizing the test to determine whether your product is CHG-compatible. This test is designed considering the application of your product, whether CHG may be applied after (immediate activity of CHG) or before (residual activity of CHG) the application of your product.
By using an in-vitro skin model to mimic human skin, we can evaluate if the application of your product interferes with the immediate and/or residual activity of CHG.
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