A case of severe allergic reaction following multiple intravenous infusion treatments

Abstract

In clinical practice， the application of surface disinfectants for skin disinfection is a prerequisite for venipuncture. Chlorhexidine， a widely recognized disinfectant， is frequently employed for this purpose. However， during intravenous infusions， minute quantities of chlorhexidine can be inadvertently introduced into the bloodstream via the puncture needle， potentially precipitating immediate-type （type ） hypersensitivity reactions. Regrettably， these reactions are often erroneously attributed to administered medications， such as antibiotics， which can result in both misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis. This article details a case of an allergic reaction that occurred subsequent to multiple intravenous infusions and was ultimately identified as chlorhexidine-induced after antibiotic allergy was ruled out. The objective of this report is to deepen the clinical physcians’ comprehension of chlorhexidine-induced allergies in the context of infusion-related allergic reactions， thereby offering a valuable reference for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment strategies.

Keywords

• intravenous infusions|chlorhexidine|allergic reactions