FDA warns of allergic reactions to CHG

Editor's Note

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on February 2 issued a warning that rare but serious allergic reactions have been reported with use of chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG).

The FDA is requesting that manufacturers add a warning label about this risk to over-the-counter (OTC) products containing CHG.

CHG is mainly available in OTC products to clean and prepare the skin before surgery and before injections.

Posted 02/02/2017] AUDIENCE: Nursing, Surgery, Dentistry, Patient ISSUE: FDA is warning that rare but serious allergic reactions have been reported with the widely used skin antiseptic products containing chlorhexidine gluconate. Although rare, the number of reports of serious allergic reactions to these products has increased over the last several years.