title: [A systematic review of surgical hand antisepsis utilizing an alcohol preparation compared to traditional products].
abstract: Surgical hand antisepsis aims at preventing surgical site infections, an important cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality and escalating hospital costs. The objectives of this study were to compare the efficacy of alcohol preparations with traditional surgical hand antisepsis products by means of a systematic review of the literature. Primary and secondary studies were included, considering the microbial count or surgical site infection rates as outcomes. The search was performed on the BVS Portal, PubMed, Ask and MEDLINE. Twenty-five studies were selected (two systematic reviews, nineteen experimental and four cohort studies). The alcohol preparations promoted a microbial reduction equal to and/or greater than traditional products in 17 studies, and a lesser reduction in four studies; similar surgical site infection rates were identified. Therefore, there is scientific evidence that support the safety of alcohol preparations for surgical hand antisepsis.
authors: Departamento de Enfermagem Médico-Cirúrgica, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil. karen.jg@usp.br
authors: Karen de Jesus
authors: Kde J
authors: Gonçalves
authors: Kazuko Uchikawa
authors: KU
authors: Graziano
authors: Julia Yaeko
authors: JY
authors: Kawagoe
mesh_terms: D000438:Alcohols; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D000985:Antisepsis / Q000379:methods*; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative
chemical_list: D000438:Alcohols; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local