While home chlorhexidine washes prior to shoulder surgery lower skin loads of most bacteria, they are not effective against Cutibacterium (Propionibacterium).

Pre-operative skin showers with chlorhexidine were not effective in reducing the load of Cutibacterium on the skin of patients having shoulder arthroplasty. Since Cutibacterium is responsible for the highest percentage of shoulder periprosthetic infections, research is needed to identify more effective means of removing these bacteria from the surgical field.