CHG shower kits/wipes
There's plenty of science on the benefits of pre-op shower-
ing, yet 52% of our respondents say their patients don't use a
chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) solution before surgery. Of those
that do, just 7% say they start using it 2 or more days beforehand.
"The New England Journal of Medicine published recommen-
dations in 2010 supporting the use of CHG soap and wipes to
reduce SSIs," says Ms. Nucci. "Evidence shows that there's an SSI
reduction in patients undergoing certain procedures who use
CHG in the days before and on the day of surgery."
Patient compliance is often the biggest challenge of instituting a
CHG pre-op program, she adds. Offering pre-made kits complete
with a small bottle of CHG soap, disposable cloths and instructions,
or individual pre-moistened wipes, make it more likely for patients
to use the solution, according to the 21% of survey respondents
who offer such options. It's especially helpful when you couple the
CHG kits or wipes with phone call or text message reminders,
several of our respondents say. One hospital manager notes that
they increased compliance simply by giving patients CHG wipes
during pre-admission testing and then calling them the day before
surgery to remind them of their scheduled time and to use the
wipes.
Single-use sterile skin preps
Respondents say skin preps are a priority in their infection con-
trol efforts. "We are trying to standardize surgical prepping by proce-
dure rather than individual surgeon preference, and transition to the
circulator doing the prepping," says Patricia A. McNamee, RN, BSN,
MS, assistant vice president of perioperative services at Monmouth
Medical Center in Long Branch N.J. While most facilities have shift-
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