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chlorhexidine

chlorhexidine

1 8.7
A medicine that kills germs and cleans skin or mouth before medical treatment
  • noun
  • /klɔrˈhɛksɪdiːn/
  • Specialized
translation icon : clorhexidina
  • Chlorhexidine is commonly used to disinfect the skin before surgery.

Examples

  • This treatment may be combined with the use of systemic antibiotics and home use of chlorhexidine mouth rinses.

    Academic text (2000)
  • For skin disinfection before the insertion of an IV catheter, 2% alcoholic chlorhexidine is more effective than 10% povidone-iodine in the prevention of catheter-related infections.

    Blog text (25)
  • Chlorhexidine solution was applied to the skin.

    Academic text (2003)
  • Disinfectants, such as chlorhexidine, are extensively used in hospitals and other health-care settings.

    Academic text (2018)
  • Once the tick has been removed, the area should be washed with a disinfectant such as chlorhexidine or cleaned with an alcohol skin wipe.

    Academic text (2014)
  • The addition of chlorhexidine to alcohol is known to intensify its bactericidal effects (Elston, 2007).

    Academic text (2010)
  • Chlorhexidine, which is an antiseptic that is effective against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, disrupts cell membranes.

    Academic text (2018)
  • The excision area was disinfected with 2% chlorhexidine lotion and marked according to the required size of the donor strip (Figure 2A).

    Academic text (2015)
  • Use of cleansing solutions included normal saline (70%), povidone-iodine (12%), chlorhexidine (12%), surgical spirits (alcohol; 6%), and hydrogen peroxide (6%).

    Academic text (2005)
  • Health care professionals recommend using chlorhexidine to prevent infections during procedures.

Antonyms

31 6.1

Something that makes water, soil or food unsafe

Surface Forms

chlorhexidine singular

Morphology

chlorhexidine = chloro + hexidine

The term is built from technical chemical combining forms (e.g., 'chloro-' + 'hexidine') that are not productive standalone English words, so learners cannot reliably infer the medical meaning from the parts.

Etymology

Chlorhexidine combines two chemical parts: chlor- meaning 'green' (as in chlorine or chlorophyll) and hex- meaning 'six' (as in hexagon). A helpful way to remember it is to think of the name as describing the chemical parts that make this long-lasting antiseptic, so chlorhexidine is the disinfectant used on skin and in the mouth.