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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
Depending on the type of surgery (for example, if an extremity is
involved), the surgeon may instruct the patient to shower provided they
do not get the operative area wet."
One advantage of CHG is that it has residual activity on the skin
for several days after application, notes Ms. Pettis. When that prep
has been used, "most surgeons seem to recommend that the
patient not shower for at least several days," she says. OSM
E-mail swasek@outpatientsurgery.net.
References
1. Farouche RO, Wall Jr MJ, Itani KMF, et al. Chlorhexidine-alcohol versus
povidone-iodine for site
antispesis. N Engl J Med. 2010;362(1):18–26. Available at
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa0810988
2. Swenson BR, Hedrick TL, Metzger R, et al. Effects of preoperative skin
preparation on postoperative wound infection rates: a prospective study of 3
skin preparation protocols. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2009;30(10):964–971.
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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