Chlorhexidine

Dairy Applications

Chlorhexidine is mainly used for the treatment of mastitis in cows. The Chlorhexidine-based products are suitable to destroy a wide range of microorganisms, including the pathogenic bacteria, which cause mastitis (i.e. Streptococcus Agalactiae, E. Coli, Staphylococcus Aureus).
Typical products manufactured using Chlorhexidine are teat creams, dips and wipes.

Other applications of Chlorhexidine in dairy hygiene are the healing of superficial cuts, abrasions or insect stings, and the general dairy hygiene. The typical products manufactured using Chlorhexidine digluconate 20% sol. are aqueous solutions ready to use or concentrated solutions.
Chlorhexidine digluconate 20% sol. is the most commonly used salt of Chlorhexidine for all these applications.

Oral Applications

Clinical studies have shown the short-term effectiveness of Chlorhexidine in plaque control and gingivitis associated to plaque, healing after periodontal and oral surgery, before periodontal surgery to prevent post-surgery bacteremia, treatment of mouth ulcers, treatment of proteic stomatitis and oral infections.

Chlorhexidine digluconate 20% sol. is the salt used to manufacture products such as mouthwashes, toothpastes, oral rinses, gels and sprays. The typical range of concentration for these applications is 0.12 - 0.20%.

Hand and Skin Disinfection

The primary requirement for healthcare washing is the ability to remove debris and transient microorganisms. The Chlorhexidine products meet the demanding requirements of surgery, skin preparation, healthcare and procedural handwash.

Chlorhexidine digluconate 20% sol. is the salt used for these applications, the typical range of concentration being 0.5 to 4%.

Other Applications

Chlorhexidine products are used for a number of other applications such as treatment of wounds and burns, gynaecology and obstetrics, sterilization and cleaning of surfaces and equipment. These products contain typically Chlorhexidine digluconate 20% solution.

Chlorhexidine dihydrochloride also has applications especially in the cosmetic field for ointments, creams and shampoos. In this case, Chlorhexidine is used as a preservative, not as a disinfectant. Chlorhexidine dihydrochloride is also used to manufacture throat tablets.

Chlorhexidine diacetate is used for dairy applications and general disinfection (equipment, surfaces and textiles). It is also used to manufacture antacid tablets.

Medichem's Chlorhexidine derivatives are worldwide known for their exclusive features which are summarized below:

Quality at affordable prices

Medichem’s main goal is to provide a product of the highest quality. Therefore Chlorhexidine salts are manufactured in our FDA inspected plant. However, because we are among the world’s largest Chlorhexidine manufacturers, we can rely on very significant economies of scale in our production, and can offer you quality products at very competitive prices.

Customer service

Given the importance of Chlorhexidine, our Customer service team has people fully dedicated to give easy access and prompt assistance to your requirements of this product.

Worldwide distribution

Medichem has an extensive network of distributors and agents worldwide. We hold stocks in more than 20 countries worldwide.

Proactive Regulatory support

In 1998 Medichem was the first manufacturer to obtain the Certificate of Suitability from the European Pharmacopoeia for Chlorhexidine digluconate 20% solution.

In 2000 Medichem applied for the notification of Chlorhexidine digluconate 20% solution according to the European Biocides Directive. The final dossier will be submitted in July'07. Thereafter, for biocidal applications, our product will be registered and included on Annex I.

Medichem has filed more than 30 different DMFs for chlorhexidine diacetate, dihydrochloride and base.

Comprehensive testing

Chlorhexidine salts comply with all the EP and USP tests and following Medichem's policy of supplying the best quality, we also perform additional tests such as particle size, residual solvents and many others...

Broad packaging options

We have a broad range of different sizes and packaging materials ranging from 25 to 1000 Kg using high density polyethylene (HDPE), metal-lined HDPE drums or IBC containers.

Highly flexible quantities

Capable of handling from grams to hundreds of tons.

Advise on formulations

Medichem can also offer advise on formulations so that the customers can develop their products on a more advanced step.

Chlorhexidine has a strong basic character and forms stable salts with several acids.

Chlorhexidine is slightly soluble in water and most organic solvents and because of this poor solubility, it is mainly used in salt form:

• Digluconate 20% solution
• Diacetate
• Dihydrochlorhide

Chlorhexidine salts are antibacterial agents, used for human and animal disinfection.

Chlorhexidine salts have a very wide range of antimicrobial activity, being effective either against gram-positive or gram-negative organisms. They also have fungicidal and sporicidal effect (the latter one at higher temperatures).

Due to the cationic character of Chlorhexidine salts, they are chemically compatible with other cationic and non-ionic substances, but are chemically incompatible with anionic compounds (sulphates, phosphates, carbonates, ...).

The main features of Chlorhexidine salts manufactured by Medichem are the very low content of impurities and the consistent quality. This can only be achieved by a very careful and advanced process, carried out according to Good Manufacturing Practices and to a Quality Management System, certified according to ISO 9001 guidelines in our FDA inspected factory. Since July 2001 Medichem is also certified according to ISO 14001 Environmental Management System.

It is Medichem's purpose, to excel and provide the highest quality, going beyond the Pharmacopoeias.

* Local inventory