Suspected link between exposure to hexachlorophene and malformed infants.

Retrospective studies, performed in 6 hospitals in Sweden, demonstrated that severe congenital malformations occurred more frequently in neonates born to mothers who used hexachlorophene soaps, 10--60 times a day by handwashing and hand-creams during at least the first trimester of pregnancy (25 severe malformations in 460 neonates), when compared to neonates born to similarly employed mothers who did not use hexachlorophene soaps (0 severe malformations in 233 neonates). Minor congenital anomalies were also more commonly noted in the hexachlorophene-exposed group when contrasted with controls. Other known adverse influences, such as age, infections during pregnancy, other drug usage, or smoking habits did not appear different in the two groups.