Review (4/5): Great Stuff, but Expensive
The only thing important on this product is the active ingredient chlorexidine. The standard concentration is 2%. Hibiclens is an "overkill" at 4%. Regardless, here are the ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES on this chemical agent.
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ADVANTAGES
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1. The active ingredient, chlorhexidine gluconate, is the ideal antiseptic skin cleanser - the "gold standard" in the opinion of numerous medical people. According to all available literature on the internet, a 2% solution kills a broad spectrum of micro-bacteria on contact. The chemical has a positive charge and binds to bacteria that is negatively charged. This electrical action weakens and disintegrates the bacterial cell membrane wall, thus destroying the organism. Because human and animal tissues are also negatively charge, the agent binds to the skin for the next five to six hours. As a result, the affected area inhibits bacterial growth.
. . . The antiseptic properties only affect organisms on the skin. ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY's "Penetration of Chlorhexidine into Human Skin" reported "poor penetration of chlorhexidine into skin following 2 min. and 30 min. exposures to chlorhexidine was observed." In other words, the agent is relatively safe because it does not penetrate the skin and get absorbed into human tissue or the blood stream and cause damage or toxic chemical reactions.
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2. Its effective antiseptic action was demonstrated in one medical study with chronically ill children. Daily bathing with the stuff reduced bacterial growth by 35%.
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In most hospitals, physicians scrub their hands with this agent before surgery. Also, patients must wash with this agent on the evening and morning before their operations.
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3. A 2% solution is the recommended concentration to be used for surgical scrubbing according to EPIC and CDC guidelines. This maybe an overkill for consumer usage. As a skin cleanser, THE JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS NURSING reported that anything over a 0.5% concentration showed "no significant differences statistically, including persistent effects within 24 hours." A lower strength of 0.2% was just as effective according to INT. ENDED J. 2001. The only difference is speed. A 0.2% concentration takes 1 min. to completely kill E. Faccalis while a 2% concentration takes 30 sec.
. . . The ineffective limit is a 0.12% concentration. This does not kill E. Faccalis. The above findings were replicated and confirmed by a more recent U.S. study in J. INFUS. NURS. 2012 Jan.-Feb.
. . . For oral rinsing, it is a different matter because the mouth is not covered by skin but mucus membrane. It is also host to different germs. The standard treatment is a 0.12% chlorhexidine concentration. However, optimum effects require a higher concentration. Clinical trials reported by THE JOURNAL OF DENTISTRY said that a 1% concentration "showed a significant reduction through intensive treatment (3-4 daily applications over 2 days) or through daily application for 10 and 14 days."
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4. Because a 0.2% concentration is just as effective as "straight out of the bottle," a 2% chlorhexidine can be diluted with water to yield ten times the amount of usable disinfectant. Also, a 4% Hibiclens concentration can yield 20 times the amount.
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5. Hibiclens is overpriced. The cheapest on amazon.com is $56.74 plus $6.40 for shipping, $63.14 is very expensive. . . . It is worse at the local drug stores. The average price is $12 per 8 oz. That is $192 for a gallon of the stuff.
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A cheaper alternative is to buy a 2% chlorhexidine gluconate from a pet products vendor. The cheapest is sold by Greener Pastures Veterinary Service Store for $8.25/gallon. If the user purchases $100+, there is free 2-day shipping.
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6. Among most chlorhexidine literature from manufacturers, they recommend one to two ounces to a gallon of cleaning solution for sanitizing floors, counter-tops, and furniture. In addition, anecdotal testimonies from pet owners, stores, and clinics report a reduction in sicknesses among animals when the solution is used to clean their cages, skin, and gums.
. . . This is surprising. One ounce of chlorhexidine to a gallon of water amounts to a 0.03125% solution. According to a study by the J. INFUS. NURS. 2012 Jan.-Feb., E. Faccalis bacteria was smeared on glass cones. A 0.12% chlorhexidine concentrate failed to kill the strain. It required a 0.2% or higher to do the job.
. . . Based on these facts, the only possible conclusion is that the weaker concentration does not directly kill existing bacteria but creates a hostile environment for germ growth. The chemical inhibits the spread of dangerous organisms on the skin, mouth, and inorganic surfaces. Through time, the noxious population is further reduced. Thus, it becomes less dangerous to the host.
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7. J. ACQUIR. IMMUNE. DEFIC. SYNDR. 2004 Feb. 1 reported that a 0.25% concentration is well tolerated by women, even in the sensitive vaginal area. At 1% concentration, there were 13% complaints of burning and itching.
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DISAVANTAGES
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1. The product has risk. It is well documented that exposure to the eye and mid-ear causes ulceration damages.
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2. According to federal records, there were 403 reported cases of adverse reactions to chlorhexidine gluconate. As expected, a majority was negative skin reaction: irritation and redness. Washing the affected area with soap and water will negate the problems within 72 hours.
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RECOMMENDATIONS
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Based on two medical studies, a water dilution of chlorhexidine to a 0.2% concentration is the minimum for eliminating microbial organisms. Leave it on for a 1 minute. As an added bonus, the 0.2% concentration is well tolerated, even in the vaginal area of females. . . . If you want a quick guaranteed kill, use a 0.5% concentration.
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For inhibiting the growth of dangerous bacteria on counter-tops, floors, pet cages, and animals, one-to-two ounces of 2% chlorhexidine to a gallon of water "will do the job." Again, this only reduces the germ population by restrict