Absorption of hexachlorophane from dusting powder on newborn infants' skin

Abstract

SUMMARYIn a maternity hospital in which the umbilicus and trunk of healthy newborn infants were treated with 0-33 % hexachlorophane dusting powder, the hexachlorophane content of blood was measured in mothers before delivery, in infants' umbilical samples at birth, and at 8 days of age in capillary blood samples. One mother and her baby had rather high blood concentrations of hexachlorophane, probably derived from a toilet preparation used before admission to hospital. Hexachlorophane was absent or barely detectable in the other mothers' blood and in the infants' umbilical blood. The hexachlorophane concentrations in the blood of 8-day-old infants ranged from nil to 0x166 ,ug./ml. (mean 0066 ,tg./ml.). These were much less than the concentrations reported to be toxic in animals.In a previous trial now reported here, a dusting powder containing chlorhexidine instead of hexachlorophane was found to delay the separation of the umbilical cord.

Dermatologic surgery and cosmetic procedures during pregnancy and the post-partum period

“…Povidine iodine is an excellent skin prep, but has been associated with fetal hypothyroidism after mucous membrane exposure . Hexachlorophene is not considered as efficacious as other available agents, although it was used extensively in the past in pregnant women and neonates with little reported toxicity if not used on open skin or in high concentration . It does have known central nervous system toxicity which has lead to seizures and death when used in the neonatal setting .…”