Patient leaflet - Hibiwash
1. What Hibiwash is and what it is used for
Hibiwash belongs to a group of medicines called antiseptics. This means that it helps to prevent infections by killing germs on the skin.
Hibiwash cutaneous solution contains the active ingredient chlorhexidine gluconate 4% w/v (40 mg/ml), which has antimicrobial properties.
Hibiwash is used to disinfect the hands and skin prior to or after an operation or clean procedure (pre- and post-operative hand and skin disinfection / antisepsis).
Hibiwash is also used to disinfect hands after handling infected materials (antiseptic handwashing).
2. What you need to know before you use Hibiwash
Do not use Hibiwash
if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to chlorhexidine gluconate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before using Hibiwash. • Avoid contact with the brain, meninges (the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord) and middle ear.
If Hibiwash comes into contact with the eyes, wash out immediately and thoroughly with water.
- Hibiwash must not come into contact with the eye due to the risk of visual damage. If it comes into contact with the eyes, wash out immediately and thoroughly with water. In case of any irritation, redness or pain in the eye, or visual disturbance, ask for medical advice promptly. Serious cases of persistent corneal injury (injury to the surface of the eye) potentially requiring corneal transplant have been reported when similar products have accidentally come in contact with the eye during surgical procedures, in patients under general anaesthesia (deep painless sleep).
- In patients with head or spinal injuries or a perforated ear drum (an ear drum with a hole or tear in it), the benefit of use in pre-operative preparation should be evaluated against the risk of contact. • Common bleaches (which contain hypochlorites) may cause brown stains to develop on fabrics which have previously been in contact with chlorhexidine.
- Hibiwash’s action may be reduced if used with soap or detergents. • Hibiwash is flammable. Do not use with ignition sources until dry. • If you go into hospital, let your doctor know if you are using Hibiwash.
Children
Use with care in newborn babies, especially those born prematurely. Hibiwash may cause chemical skin burns.
Hibiwash contains isopropyl alcohol
This medicine contains 40 mg isopropyl alcohol in each ml. Dryness, irritation, redness or burning sensation of the skin may occur. Allergic contact dermatitis or contact allergies are very rare.
3. How to use Hibiwash
Always use this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor, pharmacist or nurse have told you. Check with your doctor, pharmacist or nurse if you are not sure.
FOR EXTERNAL USE ONLY
Do not inject. Do not use in the body’s internal spaces.
Chlorhexidine must not be used in direct contact with nerve tissue, for example brain and spinal cord tissue.
- 1.
Palm to palm. 2. Right palm over left dorsum and left palm over right dorsum.
- 3. Palm to palm fingers interlaced.
- 4. Back of fingers to
opposing palms with
fingers interlocked.
- 5.
Rotational rubbing of right thumb clasping in left palm and vice versa.
- 6. Rotational rubbing backwards and forwards of tips of fingers and thumb of right hand in left palm and vice versa.
Package leaflet: Information for the patient For Pre-operative Surgical Hand Disinfection
Wet the hands and forearms. Wash with 5 ml of Hibiwash using the following procedure, each step consisting of five strokes backwards and forwards.
Continue washing hands and wrists until one minute has elapsed. Clean the fingernails with a brush or scraper. Rinse thoroughly. For pre-operative use repeat the wash a second time for two minutes.
The Hibiwash handwashing technique is based on a procedure described by Ayliffe GAJ et al. J Clin Path 1978; 31: 923.
For Antiseptic Handwashing on the Ward
Wet the hands and forearms, apply 5 ml of Hibiwash and wash for one minute. Rinse thoroughly and dry.
For Preventing Infection Before Your Operation
Wash the whole of your body in the bath or the shower on at least two occasions. This is usually done on the day before the operation and the day of the operation. Use the following method: • Use 25 ml of Hibiwash as a soap solution.
- Wash the whole body. Start with the face. Work down the body. Pay special attention to the skin around the nose, under the arms, around the belly button, between the legs and around the bottom.
- Rinse the whole body.
Hibiwash, 5:
PIL, presented concertina-style under the outer label, BACK
- Repeat the wash. Use the same amount of Hibiwash. This time, wash the hair as well.
- Rinse the whole body and dry thoroughly with a clean towel.
For Preventing Infection After Your Operation
Wash the whole of your body, excluding the operation site, in the bath or the shower. This is usually done on the third day after the operation. Use the method described above.
If you accidentally swallow any Hibiwash
You should go to your nearest Accident and Emergency department or contact your doctor immediately. Take this leaflet and any other packaging with you so they know what you have taken.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor, pharmacist or nurse.
4. Possible side effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
The following side effects may occur; it is not known how often they occur but available data suggests these are very rare (probably affect fewer than 1 in every 10,000 people).
- Serious allergic reactions which can cause breathing difficulties, weakness, collapse and death, and can sometimes be preceded by swelling (in particular lip/tongue and facial swelling), or rash.
Allergic reactions to chlorhexidine-impregnated patches have been reported rarely when used in newborn babies.
At the first sign of any of these reactions, tell your doctor, pharmacist or nurse and application of Hibiwash should be stopped immediately.
Other possible side effects, for which it is not known how often they occur, are:
- Allergic skin disorders such as dermatitis (inflammation of the skin), pruritus (itch), erythema (redness of the skin), eczema, rash, urticaria (hives), skin irritation and blisters.
- Corneal injury (injury to the surface of the eye), and permanent eye damage including permanent visual impairment (following accidental ocular exposure during head, face and neck surgical procedures) in patients under general anaesthesia (deep painless sleep).
Inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord has been reported when they have come into direct contact with chlorhexidine.
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme, Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Hibiwash
Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children. Do not use this medicine after the expiry date which is printed on the bottle after “EXP”. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original package. Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Hibiwash contains
- The active substance is chlorhexidine gluconate 4% w/v (40 mg/ml)
- The other ingredients are poloxamer 237, isopropyl alcohol, cocamidopropylamine oxide, glycerol, macrogol 7 glycerol cocoate, gluconolactone, sodium hydroxide and purified water.
What Hibiwash looks like and contents of the pack
Hibiwash is a clear, slightly viscous solution and comes in white bottles containing 125 ml, 250 ml, 500 ml or 5 litres of liquid.
Marketing Authorisation Holder
Regent Medical Limited, Medlock Street, Oldham, Lancashire, OL1 3HS, UK.
Manufacturer
Purna Pharmaceuticals
NV/SA, Rijksweg 17,
2870 Puurs-Sint-Amands,
Belgium
This leaflet was last revised in 07/2024.
500ml
hibiWASH BRAILLE TEXT:
HIBIWASH
207363
4% w/v CUTANEOUS SOLUTION Chlorhexidine gluconate 40 mg/ml
Use this only on your skin
Component no:
207108
8,5/8/7 pt
Label
Chaitanya R
16
Colour information
Cutter
Braille
4% w/v CUTANEOUS SOLUTION Chlorhexidine gluconate 40 mg/ml
Use this only on your skin
8,5 pts
8 pts
7 pts
OCR text is printed in OCR B font, 2mm height of characters, with 3 mm quiet zone.
4% w/v Cutaneous Solution Chlorhexidine gluconate 40 mg/ml
Antimicrobial Skin Cleanser for antiseptic handwashing on the ward, pre-operative surgical hand disinfection and patient pre- and post-operative skin antisepsis. Read the package leaflet before use, which is given when the label is peeled back.
Excipients: poloxamer 237, isopropyl alcohol, cocamidopro-pylamine oxide, glycerol,
macrogol 7 glycerol cocoate, gluconolactone, sodium hydroxide and purified water.
Precautions: Avoid contact with eyes, brain, meninges, eyes and middle ear. Use with care in newborn babies, especially those born prematurely. Hibiwash may cause chemical skin burns. Keep out of the sight and reach of children. Do not store above 25°C. Store in the original package. Regent Medical Limited,Oldham, OL1 3HS, UK.
PL 22099/0003 UK Only Hibiwash® is a trade mark of Regent Medical Ltd.
(01)07333350300401
(91)207109