Nursing Protocols

The Toolkit for Decolonization of non-ICU Patients With Devices includes the trial-based¹ protocols for decolonization with 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and 2% nasal mupirocin. Also included are common alternatives to the trial-based protocols for implementing decolonization.   

Hospitals should choose the protocols for implementing body and nasal decolonization that work best for them.

Protocols in this toolkit are provided in PDF versions as well as editable versions that allow hospitals to customize documents to their needs.

CHG Protocols (pick one):

• Standardized Nursing Protocol: Bed Bathing With 2% Chlorhexidine (CHG) No-Rinse Bathing Cloths and Showering With 4% CHG Liquid Soap (Protocol from the ABATE Infection Trial¹) (PDF, 415 KB; Word, 373 KB)
• Standardized Nursing Protocol: Basin Bed Bathing With 2% Liquid CHG and Showering With 4% CHG Liquid Soap (Alternative Protocol) (PDF, 374 KB; Word, 316 KB)

Nasal Decolonization Protocols (pick one):

• Standing Order Protocol for Mupirocin (Protocol from the ABATE Infection Trial¹) (PDF, 289 KB; Word, 288 KB)
• Standardized Nursing Protocol for Iodophor (10% Povidone-Iodine) (Alternative protocol) (PDF, 293 KB; Word, 290 KB)

Nursing Practice Guide

This nursing practice guide can be used to help with implementation:

• Nursing Practice Guide (PDF, 182 KB; Word, 167 KB)

Reference:

1. Huang SS, Septimus E, Kleinman K, et al. Chlorhexidine versus routine bathing to prevent multi drug-resistant organisms and all-cause bloodstream infection in general medical and surgical units: the ABATE Infection Cluster Randomized Trial. Lancet. 2019 Mar 23;393(10177):1205-15. PMID: 30850112.