title: Prophylaxis of neurosurgical infections by improved preoperative disinfection of the scalp.
abstract: The heads of neurosurgical patients were subject to 2 scrubbings with hexachlorophene detergent, performed in the ward prior to operation. After this single change of routines the frequency of wound infections after craniotomy dropped 4-fold, from 2% to 0.5%. The result indicates that the scalp of the patient is the major source of the staphylococci that cause neurosurgical infections.
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000985:Antisepsis / Q000379:methods*; D001207:Asepsis / Q000379:methods*; D001921:Brain / Q000601:surgery*; D006582:Hexachlorophene / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012535:Scalp / Q000382:microbiology*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D006582:Hexachlorophene