Theraworx Bath Wipes Versus Standard Bath Wipes in the Reduction of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci

Healthcare-associated infections (HAI) are associated with substantial morbidity, mortality and health-care costs in children undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). These infections are often caused by a patient's own microbial flora. Hence reduction of microbes in the skin could lessen the risk of contamination of central venous catheters, Central Line Associated Blood-Stream Infections (CLABSI), and bacteremia due to compromise of skin integrity. Theraworx™ (herein referred to as experimental wipes) is a self-drying, leave on cleansing agent that combines a specialized surfactant with skin healthy ingredients, including aloe, allantoin, vitamin E, and silver, which is the main antimicrobial ingredient. It can be used on all parts of the body including burns, abraded skin, and on patients with skin graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD). It is user friendly and obviates the risk of antimicrobial resistance. Microbiologic studies have shown several log fold reduction of bacteria including vancomycin-resistant enterococci, carbapenem resistant Escherichia coli, and activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Clostridium difficile, Candida albicans, and viruses including influenza A and Herpes Simplex. There is no data regarding the use of Theraworx™ (experimental) bath wipes in children or the HSCT population. Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital want to learn if daily bathing with experimental bath wipes will be well tolerated and associated with reduction in microbial skin colonization in this population.