RESULTS: One randomized controlled trial and 11
nonrandomized controlled trials reporting a total
of 137,392 patient-days met the inclusion criteria;
291 patients in the CHG arm developed a BSI over
67,775 patient-days, compared with 557 patients
in the control arm over 69,617 catheter-days.
CHG bathing resulted in a reduced incidence of
BSIs: the pooled odds ratio using a random-
effects model was 0.44 (95% confidence interval,
0.33-0.59; [Formula: see text]). Statistical
heterogeneity was moderate, with an I(2) of 58%.
For the subgroup of studies that examined central
line-associated BSIs, the odds ratio was 0.40 (95%
confidence interval, 0.27-0.59).