Skin antiseptic / wound cleanser

Chlorhexidine with cetrimide

Brand names: Tisept, Travasept

A combined antiseptic of the biguanide chlorhexidine with the quaternary-ammonium surfactant cetrimide, used for cleansing and disinfecting wounds, burns and skin.

Dosing — being independently re-sourced

ClinCalc Pro is rebuilding its dose data from primary open sources — the manufacturer SmPC (eMC), the WHO Model Formulary and other official references — under clinician review. This drug's structured dose is not yet published here. Confirm all doses against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.

Clinical monograph

How it works

Chlorhexidine disrupts microbial cell membranes with persistent residual activity, while cetrimide acts as a cationic surfactant that emulsifies debris and has additional antimicrobial and cleansing properties.

Prescribing in practice

Avoid contact with the eyes, brain, meninges and middle ear, and do not use in body cavities, as chlorhexidine can cause serious harm to these tissues.
Solutions can become contaminated with resistant organisms, so single-use sterile presentations are preferred for open wounds.
Cetrimide can be irritant to skin, especially with repeated or prolonged use.

Monitoring

Inspect the wound for signs of irritation or sensitisation and ensure the antiseptic is not used near the eyes or within enclosed cavities.

Counselling the patient

Use for cleansing skin and wounds as directed and keep away from the eyes and ears.
Report any stinging, rash or increasing redness of the treated area.

Evidence & guidelines

Guidance on avoiding sensitive tissues and contamination risk follows the SPC and standard wound-care references.

Reference: Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).

Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.

Calculators

Pathways