Answer: a
It certainly can't hurt to have patients wash the skin around the inci-
sion site with soap or antiseptic solution before they arrive for sur-
gery, but pre-op bathing has not been definitively proven to reduce the
risk of surgical site infections. At-home pre-op cleansing was among
the World Health Organization's 29 recently released evidence-based
guidelines for preventing SSIs (osmag.net/shr7zo). The recommenda-
tion says it's "good practice" for patients to bathe or shower before
surgery with plain or antimicrobial soap or CHG-impregnated cloths,
but did not tout the use of one over the other and noted that there is
limited to low-quality evidence that shows any of the options reduce
SSIs. Ms. Benton says getting patients to follow the directives to wash
and to use proper application techniques at home is a challenge, but
clearly written directives, automated text message reminders and
voicemails left by staff can help improve compliance.
OSM
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