Comparison of two surgical site protocols for cattle in a field setting.
OBJECTIVE
To compare 2 preoperative surgical site protocols for standing laparotomy in cattle in a field setting.


METHODS
Cohort study.


METHODS
Dairy cows (n = 73) undergoing a clean standing laparotomy (no visceral perforation during surgery).


METHODS
Cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 preoperative skin-preparations protocols with chlorhexidine used as an antiseptic. A standard protocol (3 minutes [min] cleansing scrub, tap water rinse, 3 minutes surgical scrub with a sterile one-use chlorhexidine scrub and alternate passage of alcohol and 2% chlorhexidine solution (7 minutes; n = 32) was compared with a 3 minutes abbreviated preoperative protocol, consisting of two 90 seconds period of cleansing scrub and 3 passages of 0.5% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% in isopropyl alcohol solution (4 minutes; n = 32). Pre- and postoperative skin bacterial counts and clinical assessment of wounds 10-15 days after surgery, as well as standardized interview with the producers focused on wound infection 30 days after the surgery were used to compare both protocols.


RESULTS
There was no difference between protocols for absolute colony forming units (CFU) and percentage CFU reduction perioperatively as well as for surgical wound clinical score 10-15 days after the surgery. The infection rate at 30 days was 10.5% (6/57) but no significant difference was observed between protocols 10% (3/30) versus 11.5% (3/27).


CONCLUSIONS
An abbreviated preoperative protocol using nonsterile reusable material can be as effective as a standard protocol using sterile one-use brush in reducing skin microflora and preventing surgical wound infection.
Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Département des sciences cliniques, Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada J2S 7C6.
Clara
C
Bourel
Sébastien
S
Buczinski
André
A
Desrochers
Denis
D
Harvey
D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002417:Cattle / Q000601:surgery*; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D013522:Surgery, Veterinary / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002710:Chlorhexidine