Effect of Bed Bathing Methods on VRE Colonization in ICU Patients

April 15, 2026 updated by: Özkan Kasap

The Effect of Two Different Bed Bathing Methods on Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus Colonization in Intensive Care Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial aims to compare the effects of two different bed bathing methods on vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) colonization in adult intensive care unit patients. A total of 210 patients were randomly assigned to receive either daily whole-body bathing with 4% chlorhexidine gluconate solution or daily bed bathing using disposable antibacterial body wipes. VRE colonization was monitored using skin swab cultures collected on days 7, 14, and 21. The results of this study may contribute to infection prevention strategies in intensive care units by identifying effective hygiene practices for reducing VRE colonization.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study was designed as a randomized controlled trial conducted in the general intensive care units of a tertiary care hospital. Adult patients meeting the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups. The experimental group received daily whole-body bed bathing with a 4% chlorhexidine gluconate solution, while the control group received daily bed bathing using disposable antibacterial body cleansing wipes.

Randomization was performed to ensure comparable baseline characteristics between the groups. VRE colonization was assessed through skin swab cultures obtained at baseline and subsequently on days 7, 14, and 21. The primary outcome of the study was the rate of VRE colonization over time. Secondary analyses included the evaluation of patient-related factors such as age, length of stay, body mass index, and previous VRE history.

All procedures were performed by trained nursing staff according to standardized protocols. The study was conducted following ethical approval obtained from the institutional ethics committee, and informed consent was obtained in accordance with ethical standards. The findings of this study aim to support evidence-based infection control practices in intensive care nursing.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

210

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Istanbul
      • Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye), 34000
        • Basaksehir Pine and Sakura City Hospital

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Adult patients aged 18 years and older
  • Patients admitted to the intensive care unit
  • Expected ICU stay of at least 48 hours
  • Patients requiring daily bed bathing

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Known hypersensitivity to chlorhexidine
  • Extensive skin lesions or burns
  • Patients colonized or infected with VRE at ICU admission
  • Pregnancy

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: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Disposable Antibacterial Bed Bath Wipes
Participants receive daily bed bathing using disposable antibacterial body cleansing wipes.
Device: Disposable antibacterial bed bath wipes
Daily whole-body bed bathing using disposable antibacterial body cleansing wipes as part of routine ICU care.
Other Names:
  • Daily bed bathing using disposable antibacterial body cleansing wipes.
  • Antibacterial bathing wipes
Experimental: 4% Chlorhexidine Gluconate Bed Bath
Participants receive daily whole-body bed bathing using a 4% chlorhexidine gluconate solution as part of the bed bathing procedure.
Procedure: Bed Bath
Daily whole-body bed bathing performed as part of routine ICU care.
Other Names:
  • Daily whole-body bathing with 4% chlorhexidine gluconate solution.
Drug: Chlorhexidine gluconate 4%
A 4% chlorhexidine gluconate solution used during the bed bathing procedure for whole-body skin antisepsis in ICU patients.
Other Names:
  • CHG 4% solution

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) Colonization
Time Frame: Baseline, Day 7, Day 14, and Day 21
The presence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) colonization assessed by skin swab cultures obtained from intensive care unit patients. Cultures were collected at baseline and on days 7, 14, and 21 to compare the effect of two different bed bathing methods.
Baseline, Day 7, Day 14, and Day 21

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in VRE Colonization Over Time
Time Frame: Day 7, Day 14, and Day 21
Changes in VRE colonization status over time were evaluated to assess the temporal effect of bed bathing methods during intensive care unit stay.
Day 7, Day 14, and Day 21

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Özkan Kasap

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Ayfer Ozbas, Prof.Dr., T.C. DEMIROGLU 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)

September 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

January 1, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

August 1, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 16, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 16, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

January 23, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 7, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 15, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2024-188

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared. This study was conducted as a single-center academic randomized controlled trial, and the informed consent and ethics committee approval did not include provisions for public data sharing. All data are analyzed and reported in aggregate form to protect participant confidentiality.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

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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