Do Chlorhexidine Vaginal and Neonatal Wipes Prevent Sepsis?

Sepsis is a major cause of infant mortality during the first week of life in resource-challenged developing countries where prophylaxis with intrapartum antibiotics has not been possible. In nonrandomized studies, chlorhexidine vaginal and neonatal wipes have shown promise in reducing sepsis-associated morbidity and mortality. In this study, investigators randomized 8011 women in a hospital in Soweto, South Africa, to receive vaginal wiping with chlorhexidine or external vaginal wiping with sterile water (control) during labor. After receiving a standard water bath at birth, infants in the intervention group received a full-body wash with chlorhexidine, and infants in the control group received a foot wash with chlorhexidine.

Among 4051 infa…