Fig 1. Heat killing of Clostridium difficile spores exposed to chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and chlorhexidine free base (CHX) solutions.

The mean log₁₀colony-forming unit (CFU) reduction of C. difficile spores exposed to CHG and CHX solutions at 80°C. After 5 minutes of exposure to CHG or CHX, heat killing increased as the concentration of chlorhexidine was increased. However, after 10 or 15 minutes of exposure to chlorhexidine at 80°C, similar reductions were achieved at each concentration. The means of the data from four experiments conducted are presented. Error bars indicate standard error.