title: Operating room fire: Should we mistrust alcoholic antiseptics?
abstract: Surgical site infections are a challenge for public health. One of the keystones of prevention is the skin preparation of the patient. Alcoholic antiseptics are presented as the best solution. But the adverse effects attributed to them must not be overshadowed by the exclusive benefit of their microbiological performance. The authors report four cases of severe burn having occurred in the operating room after skin antisepsis performed with an alcoholic antiseptic. The mechanisms of these accidents and preventive measures are reviewed. It concerns the restriction of ignition factors during use and the strict conformity to drying time. These potentially dramatic complications can and should be avoided. Probably underestimated, burns due to ignition of alcoholic antiseptics should appear more clearly in the evaluation of the risk-benefit balance.
authors.affiliation: Plastic, reconstructive et aesthetic surgery department, centre hospitalier Arras, 3, boulevard Besnier, CS 90006, 62022 Arras cedex, France; Plastic, reconstructive et aesthetic surgery department, CHRU de Lille, 2, avenue Oscar-Lambret, 59037 Lille cedex, France; Burn unit, Regional Universitary Hospital, CHRU de Lille, 2, avenue Oscar-Lambret, 59037 Lille cedex, France. Electronic address: adrien.bonnet@ch-arras.fr.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonnet
authors.affiliation: Plastic, reconstructive et aesthetic surgery department, CHRU de Lille, 2, avenue Oscar-Lambret, 59037 Lille cedex, France; Burn unit, Regional Universitary Hospital, CHRU de Lille, 2, avenue Oscar-Lambret, 59037 Lille cedex, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Devienne
authors.affiliation: Burn unit, Regional Universitary Hospital, CHRU de Lille, 2, avenue Oscar-Lambret, 59037 Lille cedex, France.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Broucker
authors.affiliation: Plastic, reconstructive et aesthetic surgery department, CHRU de Lille, 2, avenue Oscar-Lambret, 59037 Lille cedex, France; Burn unit, Regional Universitary Hospital, CHRU de Lille, 2, avenue Oscar-Lambret, 59037 Lille cedex, France.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Duquennoy-Martinot
authors.affiliation: Plastic, reconstructive et aesthetic surgery department, CHRU de Lille, 2, avenue Oscar-Lambret, 59037 Lille cedex, France; Burn unit, Regional Universitary Hospital, CHRU de Lille, 2, avenue Oscar-Lambret, 59037 Lille cedex, France.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Guerreschi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002056:Burns / Q000209:etiology*; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009873:Operating Rooms; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Antiseptics; Antiseptiques; Brûlure; Burn; Chirurgie; Diathermy; Iatrogenic disease; Iatrogénie; Surgery; Électrocoagulation