A Pilot Study to Evaluate Skin Swabbing With Chlorhexidine to Prevent Skin And Soft Tissue Infections Among People Who Inject Drugs

Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) is a cationic bisguanide that works through disruption of cell membranes. CHG has broad spectrum activity against gram-positive bacteria and to a lesser extent gram negative bacteria. CHG has significant residual activity and addition of alcohol based preparations results in even greater residual activity compared to alcohol alone. CHG acts in the presence of organic material (e.g., blood and biofilm) and its antimicrobial activity is slower than that of alcohols.

Prevantics® 1 ml Swab contains a cutaneous solution of 3.15% w/v chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and 70% v/v isopropyl alcohol (IPA), which is commonly used for the preparation of a patient's skin prior to surgery or venipuncture. Prevantics® Swab is available as a single use pre-moistened 2-sided applicator (1.0 ml).

Isopropyl alcohol (IPA), a topical skin disinfectant, is effective against many pathogens and is commonly supplied as 2x2 inch pre-soaked, single-use gauze wipes.

During a single 10 minute session, a healthcare provider gives the participant verbal and written information, counseling, and training to reinforce participant knowledge, motivation, and skills to practice skin swabbing correctly and routinely before injecting.