Surgical site infection, preoperative body washing and hair removal.
Estimates suggest one in 20 patients develop an infection following surgery, costing the NHS around pounds 1bn each year (SSHAIP 2004). This article discusses surgical site infections and the commonest bacteria which cause them. It then explores two practices, preoperative body washing and preoperative hairremoval, and their effect on bacterial reduction and surgical site infection.
Tanner
Judith
J
Montfort University, University Hospitals Leicester, Charles Frears Campus, Leicester, UK. jtanner@dmu.ac.uk
Khan
Debra
D
D019985:Benchmarking; D015984:Causality; D017281:Cost of Illness; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006204:Hair Removal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D009871:Operating Room Nursing; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D013222:State Medicine / Q000191:economics; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology