Abstract Purpose of Review Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing is widely used as an infection prevention and control (IPC) strategy to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) transmission, particularly in intensive care unit (ICU) settings. This review provides a contemporary synthesis of the clinical effectiveness, implementation considerations, and emerging applications of CHG bathing across healthcare environments. Recent Findings Recent evidence suggests that CHG bathing is associated with reductions in selected infection-related outcomes, including device-associated infections and microbial colonization. However, these benefits do not consistently translate into improvements in broader patient-centered outcomes such as mortality, clinical severity, or length of stay. Large randomized trials and updated meta-analyses have demonstrated substantial heterogeneity in effectiveness depending on the clinical endpoint, bathing protocol, and accompanying co-interventions. Emerging literature further highlights the importance of implementation-related factors, including protocol adherence, staff training, and integration into clinical workflows. Expanding use in non-ICU, outpatient, and long-term care settings has also introduced additional challenges related to feasibility, adherence, and contextual variability. Summary CHG bathing should be considered a targeted IPC strategy whose effectiveness varies according to clinical setting, implementation quality, and outcome selection. Although CHG bathing may contribute to reductions in MDRO burden and selected infection-related outcomes, current evidence does not consistently support improvements in broader clinical outcomes across all patient populations. Future research should prioritize standardized protocols, implementation-focused designs, and patient-centered outcomes to better define the optimal role of CHG bathing across diverse healthcare settings.
Gül Hatice Tarakçıoğlu Çelik (Sat,) studied this question.