Materials and methods for controlling infections
The subject invention provides materials methods for reducing infections in subjects. The materials methods utilize chlorhexidine, which has been found to be surprisingly non-toxic. The lack of toxicity facilitates the use of chlorhexidine in contexts that were not previously thought to be possible.
1. A system for minimally invasive surgery (MIS) wherein said system comprises a tube that is adapted for receiving a chlorhexidine gluconate solution from a reservoir containing said solution and said tube is further adapted to deliver the chlorhexidine gluconate solution to a site in a subject where surgery is being performed, wherein said system further comprises at least one tube for an optical component and/or for removal of fluids; wherein said system further comprises a reservoir containing a solution of 0.1% or less of chlorhexidine gluconate; wherein said reservoir is operably connected to said tube; and wherein said chlorhexidine gluconate solution consists of an aqueous solution of chlorhexidine gluconate and water.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the concentration of chlorhexidine gluconate is about 0.05% or less.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the reservoir is a bag.
4. A method of performing MIS wherein said method comprises using a system of claim 1 to deliver a solution of chlorhexidine gluconate to a surgical site.
5. The method of claim 4 , used to inhibit the growth of biofilm at the surgical site.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the concentration of chlorhexidine gluconate is about 0.05% or less.
7. The method of claim 4 , wherein said reservoir is a bag.
8. The system, according to claim 1 , which is a sterile, closed system.
9. The system, according to claim 1 , wherein the concentration of chlorhexidine gluconate is from 0.02% to 0.1%.
10. The method, according to claim 4 , wherein the concentration of chlorhexidine gluconate is from 0.02% to 0.1%.
11. The method, according to claim 4 , wherein said chlorhexidine gluconate solution consists of an aqueous solution of chlorhexidine gluconate and water.