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Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, October 2008, p. 3633-3636, Vol. 52, No. 10
0066-4804/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AAC.00637-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Penetration of Chlorhexidine into Human Skin {triangledown}

T. J. Karpanen,1* T. Worthington,1 B. R. Conway,1 A. C. Hilton,1 T. S. J. Elliott,2 and P. A. Lambert1

Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET, United Kingdom,1 Selly Oak Hospital, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Raddlebarn Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham B29 6JD, United Kingdom2

Received 15 May 2008/ Returned for modification 4 July 2008/ Accepted 25 July 2008

This study evaluated a model of skin permeation to determine the depth of delivery of chlorhexidine into full-thickness excised human skin following topical application of 2% (wt/vol) aqueous chlorhexidine digluconate. Skin permeation studies were performed on full-thickness human skin using Franz diffusion cells with exposure to chlorhexidine for 2 min, 30 min, and 24 h. The concentration of chlorhexidine extracted from skin sections was determined to a depth of 1,500 µm following serial sectioning of the skin using a microtome and analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography. Poor penetration of chlorhexidine into skin following 2-min and 30-min exposures to chlorhexidine was observed (0.157 ± 0.047 and 0.077 ± 0.015 µg/mg tissue within the top 100 µm), and levels of chlorhexidine were minimal at deeper skin depths (less than 0.002 µg/mg tissue below 300 µm). After 24 h of exposure, there was more chlorhexidine within the upper 100-µm sections (7.88 ± 1.37 µg/mg tissue); however, the levels remained low (less than 1 µg/mg tissue) at depths below 300 µm. There was no detectable penetration through the full-thickness skin. The model presented in this study can be used to assess the permeation of antiseptic agents through various layers of skin in vitro. Aqueous chlorhexidine demonstrated poor permeation into the deeper layers of the skin, which may restrict the efficacy of skin antisepsis with this agent. This study lays the foundation for further research in adopting alternative strategies for enhanced skin antisepsis in clinical practice.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Aston Triangle B4 7ET, United Kingdom. Phone: (44) 121 204 3951. Fax: (44) 121 204 4187. E-mail: karpantj{at}aston.ac.uk

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 1 August 2008.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, October 2008, p. 3633-3636, Vol. 52, No. 10
0066-4804/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AAC.00637-08
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Hendry, E. R., Worthington, T., Conway, B. R., Lambert, P. A. (2009). Antimicrobial efficacy of eucalyptus oil and 1,8-cineole alone and in combination with chlorhexidine digluconate against microorganisms grown in planktonic and biofilm cultures. J Antimicrob Chemother 64: 1219-1225 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Karpanen, T. J., Worthington, T., Conway, B. R., Hilton, A. C., Elliott, T. S. J., Lambert, P. A. (2009). Permeation of Chlorhexidine from Alcoholic and Aqueous Solutions within Excised Human Skin. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 53: 1717-1719 [Full Text]  


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