Chlorhexidine for prevention of neonatal colonization with group B streptococci. II. Chlorhexidine concentrations and recovery of group B streptococci following vaginal washing in pregnant women.

The effect of a single washing of the urogenital tract with 0.5 g/l chlorhexidine was studied in 6 women in weeks 38-40 of pregnancy, among whom 5 were carriers of group B streptococci in urethra and/or cervix. The chlorhexidine concentrations varied between 25 and 200 mg/l during the first hour after washing in 5 of the 6 women, whereas one patient showed concentrations below 25 mg/l. With the exception of one patient, all individuals showed concentrations less than 25 mg/l at 3-24 h after washing. A clear suppression of the number of colony-forming units of GBS was already apparent after 60 min and was still evident 6 h after chlorhexidine washing.