INFANT ANTISEPTIC SKIN CARE AND HEXACHLOROPHENE

Abstract

This paper reviews the current literature and dilemma concerning hexachlorophene and its neurotoxic effects and its use in infant antiseptic skin care. A 3% hexachlorophene emulsion has been used in Geelong for 12 years in a total body regime of antiseptic skin care of newborn Infants on alternate days whilst they are in hospital. No evidence of neurotoxicity to hexachlorophene has been observed in any of the 26,114 infants undergoing this regime. The hexachlorophene concentrations in blood samples taken from 135 full‐term and pre‐term infants ranged from 0.010 to 0.150 μg/ml, with an overall mean of 0.049 μg/ml by the third or fourth washing. The maximum concentrations recorded were not related to either the birth weight of the infants or the number of washings after the third or fourth ones, and in no instance approached one‐fifth the minimum concentration reported experimentally as neurotoxic to rats or newborn monkeys. The following recommendations are made: 1. Infant antiseptic skin care with 3% hexachlorophene emulsions should continue In maternity hospitals in Australia. The benefits of its use as an effective aid in the control of staphylococcal sepsis in nurseries far outweighs the risks, if any, in normal infants. 2. Premature infants with a birth weight of 1,400 gm or less should not undergo routine antiseptic skin care with 3% hexachlorophene emulsions. 3. The use of 3% hexachlorophene emulsions in burnt or excoriated skin is strongly contraindicated and may be fatal.