8 6
O U T P AT 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 | J U N E 2 0 1 4
Practices. Denver, CO:
AORN, Inc; 2014. [IVA])
found no cases of
patient incision-site
contamination related
to wearing artificial
nails or nail polish on
the operative hand and
foot. In 2 separate stud-
ies, researchers found
that the amount of
potentially pathogenic
bacteria cultured from
the fingertips of health-
care personnel wearing
artificial nails was
greater than for those with natural nails, both before and after hand
washing. Artificial nail surfaces or polish may harbor microorganisms,
which could contaminate the surgical site or reduce the effectiveness of
pre-operative patient skin antisepsis. This is the first time AORN has
taken a position on patients' wearing artificial nails. Essentially, we're
prescribing the same fingernail precautions for patients having hand or
foot surgery as we do for healthcare workers. If a patient's having
abdominal surgery, it's OK for her to wear artificial nails or nail polish if
permitted by facility policy.
3. May I dilute the skin antiseptic solution when performing preoperative
patient skin antisepsis?
No. In a drug safety communication, the FDA recommended that
healthcare professionals not dilute antiseptic products after opening
S U R G I C A L S K I N A S E P S I S
PROPER PREPPING ATTIRE Nurses should wear gloves
and long sleeves when applying skin preps.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN
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