Effect of the first bath with chlorhexidine on skin colonization with Staphylococcus aureus in normal healthy term newborns

A masked randomized clinical trial was conducted in 93 neonates who received the first bath with chlorhexidine (experimental) (n =44) or neutral liquid soap (control) (n =49). Three samples were collected for culture from the neonates' right axilla skin before bath, 30 min and 24 h after bath. Immediately before bath, Staphylococcus aureus colonization prevalence was 10.2% (n = 5) in control and 4.5% (n =2) in the experimental group (p =0.74). 30 min after bath, S. aureus prevalence was 20.4% (n = 10) in control and 2.3% (n = 1) in the experimental group (p =0.017). 24 h after bath, S. aureus prevalence was 36.7% (n = 18) in control and 13.6% (n =6) in the experimental group (p =0.021). There was no occurrence of sepsis in the first month in both groups. In conclusion, a first bath with chlorhexidine reduced S. aureus colonization on the newborn's skin in a 24-h period.