JAMA · Cluster Randomized Trial · 2026-07-20
Conflicting EvidenceUniversal chlorhexidine bathing shows no reduction in bloodstream infections in non-ICU wards
Why it matters. Tempers enthusiasm for hospital-wide CHG bathing; setting matters. Sits in tension with the ICU meta-analysis.
Study design
- Design
- Cluster randomized trial
- Population
- Non-ICU medical/surgical wards
- Setting
- Multi-site, single country
- Sample size
- n = 33,000
- Intervention
- Daily chlorhexidine bathing
- Comparator
- Usual bathing
Provenance
- Source
- JAMA
- Source type
- peer_reviewed
- Content analyzed
- abstract
Evidence grading reflects the portion of the source actually analyzed. Always confirm against the original before acting.
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Discussion
methodological concern · on limitation
Lower baseline BSI rate almost certainly underpowered this for a meaningful effect, the null result may reflect setting, not lack of benefit. Read alongside rb-0004 before drawing conclusions.
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