Possible Interaction: Ethanol and Chlorhexidine

“The combination of 1% CHG and 61% ethanol had significantly greater microbial reduction than either the 4% CHG (without ethanol) or the 61% ethanol vehicle (without CHG).”

“Finally, the in vivo bactericidal effect of chlorhexidine on gram-positive cocci is dramatically improved by the addition of alcohol and is superior to that of aqueous povidone-iodine (14-16).”

“Local … with chlorhexidine … alcohol than with povidone iodine plus alcohol (0 [0%] of 496 patients vs six [1%] of 493 patients) and the same was observed for … [1%] vs 70/415 [17%] catheters among the catheters cultured; adjusted subdistribution hazard ratio 0·08 [95% CI 0·02-0·18]).”

“Statistically significant lower CLABSI rates are sustainable with use of alcohol with CHG.”

“ Alcohol has a potent immediate bactericidal effect, and there is some scientific evidence in favor of its combination with chlorhexidine , but most studies on this issue are heterogeneous and with inconclusive results.”

“ Chlorhexidine with alcohol showed significantly lower minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentration than the other groups.”

“For saliva isolates in a comparison with the distilled water, the herbal mix, cranberry, cranberry mixed with chlorhexidine , chlorhexidine, and chlorhexidine with alcohol showed significantly increased zones of inhibition by 38.00, 34.25, 22.94, 16.50, and 16.44, respectively.”

“Results: For reference strain in a comparison with the distilled water, the herbal mix, cranberry, cranberry mixed with chlorhexidine , chlorhexidine, and chlorhexidine with alcohol showed significantly increased zones of inhibition by 36.38, 36.25, 26.13, 17.75, and 12.38, respectively.”

“Conclusions(1) The presence of alcohol may increase the effectiveness of CHX in early wound healing, (2) C31G might be an alternative solution prescribed during early postoperative period after non-regenerative periodontal flap surgery.”

“2 We are concerned that if the policy of using chlorhexidine 2% in alcohol 70 % is introduced around the country that we may see an increase in complications of arachnoiditis secondary to chlorhexidine contamination.”

“Results showed that water, glycerin, saline, sodium lauryl sulphate (SDS) and ethanol tend to reduce permeation of chlorhexidine through burn eschar.”

“With regard to the upper digestive tract, acetaldehyde production from ingested ethanol could be significantly reduced by using an antiseptic mouthwash, chlorhexidine.”