Notice
Ongoing construction may impact traffic around University Hospital, American Family Children's Hospital and Waisman Center. Please allow for additional travel time.Read more
Your child needs a chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) treatment before surgery to help prevent infection. Everyone has germs on their skin. These germs do not usually cause problems, but, surgery can increase the chance of infection. This is why it is important to bathe with CHG before surgery. Please follow these instructions.
If you do not have the CHG cloths or are allergic to CHG, please use regular soap to bathe the night before. Wash hair with shampoo only.
Using CHG Cloths Correctly
Do not follow the instructions on the back of the package.
Do not apply CHG directly to face, head, or genital area.
Do not use any other hair care products except for shampoo.
Do not use lotion, makeup, or deodorant.
Do not shave or wax 3 days before surgery.
Do not flush the CHG cloths down the toilet.
Do not rinse or wipe off the CHG after using the cloths. It is normal for the skin to feel sticky.
Tips for warming cloths at home:
Do not microwave the cloths.
Place sealed packages in warm water.
Sit on the sealed packages to warm.
How to Use the CHG Cloths
The night before surgery, shower, or bathe as normal with soap and water. Use a clean washcloth or new sponge. Do not shave.
Dry with a clean towel and dress in clean clothes. Let skin dry for 1 hour before using the cloths to reduce skin irritation.
Wipe skin as shown in the picture on the next page. Use one wipe for each area of skin as shown by the numbers on the picture.
It is important to wipe the skin folds where the legs meet the body.
After using the wipes put on clean underwear and clothes. Be sure that pillowcases, bedsheets, comfort items are all washed and clean.
How to Use Liquid CHG Soap
The night before surgery, shower, or bathe as normal with soap and water. Use a clean washcloth or new sponge. Do not shave.
Turn off or step out of the stream of water.
Wet a clean washcloth and apply CHG soap to washcloth.
With CHG washcloth. wash skin from neck to toe, including belly button. Cover all skin areas one at a time. Do not rinse.
Apply a second layer of soap with a clean washcloth.
Leave CHG soap on skin for 1 minute (sing happy birthday two times slowly), so it can absorb into skin.
Rinse with warm water. Do not scrub. Dry with clean towel. Dress in clean pajamas and sleep on clean sheets.