Before using the CHG skin preparation cotton swab applicator, the following aspects need to be noted:

• Confirmation of Patient Information
  • Inquiry about Allergy History: Inquire in detail whether the patient is allergic to CHG or other related components. If there is an allergic condition, allergic reactions such as skin itching, rashes, and redness may occur after use. In severe cases, life-threatening situations such as difficulty breathing and anaphylactic shock may even occur. In such a case, the use of this applicator should be prohibited.
  • Understanding of Underlying Diseases: Understand the patient’s underlying disease conditions, such as whether they have severe skin diseases, immunodeficiency, and other diseases. For patients with skin damage, ulcers, inflammation, and other conditions, use with caution is required to avoid the disinfectant irritating the wound, aggravating the condition, or affecting wound healing. For patients with immunodeficiency, pay close attention to the disinfection effect and possible adverse reactions during use.
• Item Preparation and Inspection
  • Inspection of the Packaging: Check whether the packaging of the applicator is intact. If the packaging is damaged, leaking air, etc., the cotton swab inside may be contaminated, affecting the disinfection effect. In this case, a new applicator should be replaced.
  • Confirmation of the Expiry Date: Check the expiry date of the applicator to ensure that it is used within the valid period. An expired applicator may have reduced disinfection effectiveness due to the deterioration of its components, and it cannot effectively kill bacteria, thus increasing the risk of infection.
• Environmental Preparation
  • Cleanliness: Ensure that the operation environment is clean before use to reduce the number of dust and bacteria in the air. Avoid performing skin disinfection operations in areas with obvious dust, debris, or frequent personnel movement to prevent the disinfected skin from being contaminated again.
  • Temperature and Humidity: Generally speaking, the environmental temperature and humidity have little impact on the use of the CHG skin preparation cotton swab applicator. However, in extreme high or low temperature or high humidity environments, it may affect the performance of the disinfectant and the patient’s comfort. For example, in a cold environment, the applicator can be appropriately placed at room temperature to warm it up before use to reduce the patient’s discomfort.

In addition, the operator should also clean and disinfect their hands properly and follow the principles of aseptic operation to ensure the safety and effectiveness of using the CHG skin preparation cotton swab applicator.