hexachlorophene /hek′səklôr″əfēn/ , a topical bacteriostatic cleansing agent. The skin should be rinsed thoroughly to prevent systemic absorption. ▪ INDICATIONS: It is used as an antiseptic scrub and as a disinfectant to clean inanimate objects of gram-positive bacteria. It is not effective against gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Escherichia coli. ▪ CONTRAINDICATIONS: Known hypersensitivity to this drug prohibits its use. Systemic absorption can occur when it is used on burns, broken skin, mucous membranes, and infant skin, with hemotoxic effects. Hexachlorophene washing of disposable gloves prior to reusing them is not recommended; if reusing gloves is absolutely necessary, chlorhexidine 4% liquid soap or povidone-iodine 7.5% liquid soap are far superior choices. ▪ ADVERSE EFFECTS: Among the more serious adverse effects are skin rash and neurological abnormalities.
