What do systematic reviews say?

Bathing of the critically ill with chlorhexidine vs bathing with soap and water or non‐antimicrobial washcloths

• Chlorhexidine bathing of the critically ill for the prevention of hospital‐acquired infection 2019 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  5 studies · 6365 participants
  Very low

Chlorhexidine 0.2% vs Normal saline

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Chlorhexidine (vaginal wash or gel/cream) vs placebo or no treatment

It is very uncertain whether chlorhexidine (vaginal wash or gel/cream) changes adverse (mild) effects in the mother compared with placebo or no treatment (very low certainty).

• Vaginal chlorhexidine during labour to prevent early‐onset neonatal group B streptococcal infection 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 8.5 [1.6, 45.28]
  3 studies · 1066 participants
  Very low

Chlorhexidine (vaginal wash or gel/cream) vs placebo or no treatment

• Vaginal chlorhexidine during labour to prevent early‐onset neonatal group B streptococcal infection 2014 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  no estimate extracted
  3 studies · 1066 participants
  GRADE not reported

Sodium hypochlorite 1% with chlorhexidine 2% final rinse vs Sodium hypochlorite 1% with normal saline final rinse

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found

Chlorhexidine (mouthrinse or gel), as part of oral hygiene care vs placebo or usual care

• Oral hygiene care for critically ill patients to prevent ventilator‐associated pneumonia 2020 · Cochrane All outcomes
  Adverse effects: information from 2 studies; one stated there were none, the other reported mild reversible irritation of the oral mucosa; very low certainty. There was a lack of evidence about adverse effects.
  2 studies
  Very low

Chlorhexidine dressing following alcohol cleansing vs polyurethane dressing following aqueous povidone‐iodine cleansing

Chlorhexidine dressing following alcohol cleansing probably leads to higher adverse effects: contact dermatitis compared with polyurethane dressing following aqueous povidone‐iodine cleansing (moderate certainty).

• Antimicrobial dressings for the prevention of catheter‐related infections in newborn infants with central venous… 2016 · Cochrane Headline outcomes only
  RR 43.06 [2.61, 710.44]
  1 study · 670 participants
  Moderate

Chlorhexidine mouthrinse (any concentration; 0.05% to 0.2%) used in conjunction with mechanical oral hygiene procedures vs Placebo/control mouthrinse, or no mouthrinse (mechanical oral hygiene alone); controls pooled (protocol's separate comparisons versus mechanical oral hygiene alone and versus placebo/control merged)

• Chlorhexidine mouthrinse as an adjunctive treatment for gingival health 2017 · Cochrane All outcomes
  SoF narrative row (Other adverse effects): 22 trials reported at least 1 adverse effect apart from extrinsic tooth staining and calculus formation in the chlorhexidine rinse arms. The adverse effects most commonly…
  22 studies
  GRADE not reported

Antiseptic mouthwash (e.g. chlorhexidine) vs Another topical agent or placebo

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Topical treatments for HIV‐related oral ulcers 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No studies were included in this review. A total of 233 abstracts were retrieved; 25 were selected as potentially eligible but all were excluded (10 reported systemic rather than topical treatment; 3 non‐RCTs; 6…
  0 studies
  No studies found

Silver diamine fluoride (SDF) vs Chlorhexidine varnish

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Topical silver diamine fluoride (SDF) for preventing and managing dental caries in children and adults 2024 · Cochrane All outcomes
  No studies reported data for this outcome in this comparison
  0 studies
  No studies found

Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 2.5% to 5.25% vs Chlorhexidine, 0.2% to 2% (solution or gel)

The review found no eligible studies for this question.

• Irrigants for non‐surgical root canal treatment in mature permanent teeth 2012 · Cochrane All outcomes
  no estimate extracted
  0 studies
  No studies found