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I N F E C T I O N
P R E V E N T I O N
blood, body fluids, tissue proteins or other organic matter, alcohol's is
not. Alcohol comes with cautions, of course: It's a flammable substance, so you must let preps that contain it dry completely; it can dry
the skin; and it shouldn't be used around the eyes or mucous membranes. But for orthopedic cases, it's a valuable assistant.
The CDC and AORN don't currently recommend one type of skin
prep over another, but Project JOINTS makes it plain: Whatever prep
you use before arthroplasties, make sure it contains alcohol.
2. "Instruct patients
to bathe or shower
with chlorhexidine
gluconate (CHG) soap
for at least 3 days
before surgery."
The idea of pre-op showers
for surgical patients is not
new. Previous guidelines,
however, recommended the
patient shower or bathe with
antimicrobial soap on the
night before and the morning
of surgery. According to Project JOINTS, the cumulative effect of
CHG on skin-based bacteria may be worth considering.
"Studies show that repeated use of CHG soap enhances the ability of
CHG to reduce bacterial counts on the skin not only during the immediate period after the shower but for a number of hours afterward," says
Project JOINTS. Although there's not enough proof to show benefits
from 5 days of antimicrobial bathing, 3 days seems to make a difference.
Because the patient must bathe in his home, your surgeons and staff
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | M A R C H 2013
