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 method for reducing infection at a site in a subject, wherein said method comprises administering to the site an aqueous solution that comprises chlorhexidine at a concentration of about 0.05% or less, wherein the site is in a urogenital tract.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the chlorhexidine is chlorhexidine gluconate.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying suction to the site.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the infection comprises biofilm.
5. A method for reducing infection at a site in a subject, wherein said method comprises administering to the site an aqueous solution that comprises chlorhexidine at a concentration of 1% or less, wherein the site is a urogenital tract, and wherein the method further comprises applying suction to the site.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the chlorhexidine is chlorhexidine gluconate.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the infection comprises biofilm.
8. The method of claim 5 , wherein the aqueous solution consists of an aqueous solution of chlorhexidine and, optionally, a buffer.
9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the concentration of chlorhexidine is about 0.05% or less.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the concentration of chlorhexidine is about 0.05%.
11. A method for reducing infection at a site in a subject, wherein said method comprises administering to the site an aqueous solution that comprises chlorhexidine at a concentration of 1% or less, wherein the site is a urogenital tract, and wherein the infection comprises biofilm.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the chlorhexidine is chlorhexidine gluconate.
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising applying suction to the site.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the aqueous solution consists of an aqueous solution of chlorhexidine and, optionally, a buffer.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the concentration of chlorhexidine is about 0.05% or less.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the concentration of chlorhexidine is about 0.05%.
17. A method for reducing infection at a site in a subject, wherein said method comprises administering to the site an aqueous solution that comprises chlorhexidine at a concentration of 0.05% or less, wherein the site is a urogenital tract, and wherein the aqueous solution consists of an aqueous solution of chlorhexidine and, optionally, a buffer.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the chlorhexidine is chlorhexidine gluconate.
19. The method of claim 17 , further comprising applying suction to the site.
20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the infection comprises biofilm.
21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the concentration of chlorhexidine is about 0.05%.