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S U R G I C A L
S K I N
A N T I S E P S I S
1. Are pre-op showers necessary?
Practice recommendations from professional organizations sometimes
differ due to a lack of definitive evidence regarding SSI reduction.
There is, however, evidence to show that pre-op showering decreases
bacterial colonization of the skin. Further, chlorhexidine gluconate
(CHG) in particular has been shown to reduce bacterial colonization of
the skin.
Bathing or showering with or applying a CHG liquid (4% in bottle) or
cloth (2% in cloths) twice before surgery makes good sense for most surgical procedures, says Ann Marie Pettis, RN, BSN, CIC, the director of
infection prevention at the University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical
Center.
"To gain the maximum antiseptic effect of CHG, it must be allowed
to dry completely and not be washed off," says Linda R. Greene, RN,
MPS, CIC, the director of infection prevention for Rochester (N.Y.)
Health System. Those 2 showers recommended before surgery are for
Class 1 surgical procedures below the neck. For procedures on the
PREPPING'S 3 GOALS
They Lower the Risk of SSIs By …
• removing soil and transient microorganisms from the skin
• reducing resident microbial count to low levels (should occur
in a short period of time with minimized tissue irritation)
• inhibiting rapid, rebound growth of microorganisms
D E C E M B E R 2012 | 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
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