A bacteriological evaluation of a programme for preoperative total body-washing with chlorhexidine gluconate performed by patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery.
Twenty-eight orthopaedic patients were taught to wash their entire bodies with chlorhexidine gluconate on two consecutive days preoperatively, starting in their homes. The operation field was also washed a third time. A bacteriological evaluation was performed using contact plates. A significant reduction of the skin flora, including Staph. aureus, was registered. No adverse side effects of total body-washing were observed.
D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009985:Orthopedics; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods*
D002710:Chlorhexidine