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Allergic contact dermatitis to chlorhexidine
Author(s) -
Toholka Ryan,
Nixon Rosemary
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
australasian journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.67
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1440-0960
pISSN - 0004-8380
DOI - 10.1111/ajd.12087
Subject(s) - chlorhexidine , medicine , antiseptic , contact dermatitis , allergic contact dermatitis , allergy , dermatology , allergen , contact allergy , dentistry , immunology , pathology
Chlorhexidine is a commonly used antiseptic agent in the health‐care setting. Although exposure to chlorhexidine is very common, allergic contact dermatitis ( ACD ) is rarely reported. We report a case series of ACD to chlorhexidine in health‐care workers and discuss our rates of allergy to chlorhexidine, from patch‐testing performed at the S kin and C ancer F oundation, M elbourne, A ustralia. Of 7890 patients patch‐tested, 840 patients were tested to 0.5% chlorhexidine diacetate with 28 (3%) positive reactions, 13 (2%) of which relevant to their presenting dermatitis. Altogether 1565 patients were tested to 0.5% chlorhexidine digluconate, with 47 (3%) positive reactions, 16 (1%) of which were relevant. We estimate our rate of relevant chlorhexidine ACD from our total clinic patients, non‐occupational and occupational, to be at least 19/7890 (0.24%). Our rate of relevant chlorhexidine ACD in health‐care workers is 10/541 (2%). Interestingly, our rates of chlorhexidine allergy are slightly higher than documented elsewhere. This raises the possibility that chlorhexidine is underestimated as an allergen worldwide, and should be tested for in health‐care workers where there is a history of exposure.