Background: The effects of chlorhexidine-based body washing (CHW) on health care-associated infections have been reported in numerous studies, while their findings remain conflicting. This study aims to update the evidence for the effects of CHW on the risk of colonization or infection with hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus  (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus  (VRE).
Methods: Two independent authors searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception through February 2018. We selected all observational studies or clinical trials for the effect of CHW on the risk of colonization and infection with hospital-acquired MRSA or VRE. Random-effects models were applied to calculate summary incidence rate ratios (IRRs) for the related associations.
Results: Of 140 records identified, we obtained data from 17 relevant articles for meta-analysis. Compared with patients without antiseptic bathing, patients with CHW had a significantly lower risk of MRSA colonization (IRR 0.61, 95% CI 0.48–0.77) and VRE colonization (IRR 0.58, 95% CI 0.42–0.80). Similarly, we also noted that patients with CHW had a significantly lower risk of MRSA infection (IRR 0.65, 95% CI 0.52–0.81). However, no significantly lower risk of VRE infection (IRR 0.61, 95% CI 0.30–1.25) was noted in patients with CHW. Sensitivity analyses or trim-and-fill method confirmed the robustness of the findings.
Conclusion: Current evidence supports that patients with CHW had a significantly lower risk of MRSA or VRE colonization and a lower risk of MRSA infection. More evidence should be accumulated to reinforce these findings, especially on the effect of CHW on the risk of VRE infection.
Keywords: chlorhexidine, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus , MRSA, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus , VRE, bathing, meta-analysis