Skin allergy chlorhexidine

It is possible that the potential benefit of reducing the incidence of central venous sepsis by using chlorhexidine-coated catheters is outweighed by the risk of sudden and profound anaphylaxis. Certainly a high degree of suspicion of chlorhexidine allergy shonld be exercised and skin tests performed. 

Fischer, L.A., and T. Agner. 2004. Curcumin allergy in relation to yellow chlorhexidine solution used for skin disinfection prior to surgery. Contact Dermat. 51(l) 39-40. 

Incidences of anaphylaxis to chlorhexidine are not necessarily readily found or widespread and, in fact, there are no reports of any cases from many countries. This may reflect the local absence of chlorhexidine preparations, failure to recognize and/or investigate reactions, the different concentrations used in antiseptics in different countries, or absence of sensitivity to the agent. The Danish Anaesthesia Allergy Centre, established in 1998 to investigate patients referred from all over Denmark, found 4 men of 21 patients with positive skin tests to various substances tested positive to chlorhexidine. Three cases of anaphylaxis to chlorhexidine were reported in Finland up to 1999, 11 cases were seen in Australia in the period 1985-1994 and 9 in Japan between 1967 and 1984. 

---