Chlorhexidine Lavage for Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection

January 13, 2026 updated by: Sara Cichowski, Oregon Health and Science University

Effect of Chlorhexidine Perineal Lavage Following Defecation in Post-Menopausal Women With Recurrent Urinary Tract Infection

A two-arm randomized control trial evaluating rates of urinary tract infection in post-menopausal women on vaginal estrogen with recurrent urinary tract infections.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

There is a critical need for low-cost, non-antibiotic interventions that are feasible for patients to utilize for risk reduction and prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs). The current most effective non-antibiotic prophylaxis for recurrent UTI is vaginal estrogen; however, approximately 50% of women will continue to experience UTIs. The investigators propose a randomized control trial of postmenopausal women on vaginal estrogen with the diagnosis of recurrent UTIs to evaluate a novel post-defecation hygienic strategy utilizing a 2% chlorhexidine perineal lavage. Participants will be randomized to either a 2% chlorhexidine perineal lavage or a water lavage. Study participants will be followed for up to 6-months, and UTIs will be tracked with culture proven samples throughout study participation.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
136

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 4

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.
  • Name: Women's Health Research Unit Department of OB/GYN
  • Phone Number: 503-494-3666
  • Email: whru@ohsu.edu

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Oregon
      • Portland, Oregon, United States, 97239
        • Oregon Health & Science University

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Post-menopausal female between age 55 and 89
  • No post-menopausal bleeding
  • Diagnosis of recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI) in the electronic health record or as two culture proven UTIs in 6 months or three culture proven UTIs in 12 months
  • At least one UTI in the 6 months prior to entering the study
  • Asymptomatic for UTI symptoms at the time of enrollment.
  • On vaginal estrogen therapy for at least 6 weeks prior to enrollment
  • Ready access to email and internet

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Recent prophylactic antibiotic use (washout period of 4 weeks)
  • Neurogenic bladder
  • Diagnosis of urinary retention
  • Uncorrected Stage III-IV prolapse
  • Indwelling catheter or need for intermittent self-catheterization
  • History of complicated UTIs
  • History of interstitial cystitis or bladder pain syndrome
  • History of fecal incontinence/accidental bowel leakage
  • Greater than 14 bowel movements per week
  • Non-English speaking
  • Allergy to chlorhexidine gluconate
  • Inability to utilize vaginal estrogen therapy
  • Recent urogynecological or urologic surgery (<12 weeks)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Chlorhexidine Lavage
2% chlorhexidine perineal lavage following defecation
Drug: Chlorhexidine
Participants will use a 2% chlorhexidine perineal lavage following defecation
Active Comparator: Sterile Water Lavage
Sterile water perineal lavage following defecation
Drug: Sterile Water
Participants will use a sterile water perineal lavage following defecation

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Rate of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
Time Frame: 90 days following treatment initiation
The proportion of participants in each arm who experience a urinary tract infection (UTI) within 90 days will be compared
90 days following treatment initiation

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Vulvovaginal Symptom Questionnaire (VSQ)
Time Frame: VSQ administered prior to randomization and at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks post-randomization
Vulvovaginal symptoms will be evaluated using the VSQ from baseline to post-intervention and compared between the groups with and without chlorhexidine in their perineal lavage. The VSQ is scored on a scale of 0-16 for those who are not sexually active or 0-20 for those who are sexually active, with a higher score indicating worse outcomes.
VSQ administered prior to randomization and at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks post-randomization
Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI-6)
Time Frame: UDI-6 administered prior to randomization and at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks post-randomization
Urinary symptoms will be evaluated using the UDI-6 from baseline to post-intervention and compared between the groups with and without chlorhexidine in their perineal lavage. It is scored on a scale from 0 to 100 with higher scores indicating worse outcomes.
UDI-6 administered prior to randomization and at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks post-randomization

Other Outcome Measures

Other Outcome Measures

For clinical trials, a planned measurement described in the protocol that is used to determine the effect of an intervention/treatment on participants. For observational studies, a measurement or observation that is used to describe patterns of diseases or traits, or associations with exposures, risk factors, or treatment. Types of outcome measures include primary outcome measure and secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Participant Satisfaction with Virtual Recruitment
Time Frame: Upon completion of the intervention period, 90 days after randomization
Satisfaction with virtual recruitment and enrollment will be evaluated using the Patient Global Impression scales to allow for participant reported outcomes regarding perceived change following intervention. It is scored on a scale from 1 to 7 with a higher score indicating a worse outcome.
Upon completion of the intervention period, 90 days after randomization

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Oregon Health and Science University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 23, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 14, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 14, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 19, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
January 15, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 13, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
January 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • STUDY00027352

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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