National survey of hand antisepsis practices.
Surgical hand antisepsis is routinely carried out prior to undertaking invasive procedures in an attempt to reduce surgical site infection. There are a number of components within hand antisepsis which include the choice of antiseptic agent, the method of application and the duration of the process. This article presents the findings of a postal survey of 1,471 (out of 8,000) perioperative practitioners identifying their surgical hand antisepsis practices. While a traditional scrub using chlorhexidine gluconate remains the preferred method of antisepsis, 20% of practitioners use alcohol rubs for repeated cases. Compliance with recommended guidelines is patchy (for example, only 3% of practitioners scrub for the recommended time of two minutes) and guidelines need to address more issues.
Tanner
Judith
J
De Montfort University and University Hospitals, Leicester.
Blunsden
Chris
C
Fakis
Apostolos
A
D000438:Alcohols; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D003625:Data Collection; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans
D000438:Alcohols; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local