Chlorhexidine Gluconate–Impregnated Central Access Catheter Dressings as a Cause of Erosive Contact Dermatitis

Chlorhexidine gluconate-impregnated dressings have become widely adopted as a means to reduce the risk for catheter-associated bloodstream infections. These dressings release antiseptic under occlusion onto the skin surrounding catheter insertion sites. Although chlorhexidine gluconate is a known cause of contact dermatitis, the phenotypic range of this adverse effect of chlorhexidine gluconate–impregnated dressings in critically ill patients has not been described.