Abstract
* The Food and Drug Administration has requested that manufacturers of over-the-counter topical products containing chlorhexidine gluconate add a warning to the drugs' labeling about the risk of a rare but potentially lethal allergic reaction to the antiseptic.
* If patients develop an allergic response to a product containing chlorhexidine gluconate, they should discontinue its use and wash any remaining product off their skin. Nurses should monitor patients and be prepared to treat anaphylaxis.