title: Postoperative Showering for Clean and Clean-contaminated Wounds: A Prospective, Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate wound infection rates, pain scores, satisfaction with wound care, and wound care costs starting 48 hours after surgery.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Showering after surgery is a controversial issue for wound care providers and patients. We investigated the benefits and detriments of showering for postoperative wound care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing thyroid, lung, inguinal hernia, and face and extremity surgeries with clean or clean-contaminated wounds were included. The patients were randomized to allow showering (shower group) or to keep the wound dry (nonshower group) for postoperative wound care starting 48 hours after surgery. The primary endpoint was the rate of surgical wound infection. The secondary endpoints included the wound pain score, satisfaction with wound care, and cost of wound care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between May 2013 and March 2014, there were 222 patients randomized to the shower group and 222 to the nonshower group. Two patients in each group were lost to follow-up. There were 4 superficial surgical site infections in the shower group and 6 in the nonshower group (4/220, 1.8% vs 6/220, 2.7%, P = 0.751). Postoperative pain scores were comparable between the 2 groups. Patients in the shower group were more satisfied with their method of wound care, and their wound care costs were lower when compared with the nonshower group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clean and clean-contaminated wounds can be safely showered 48 hours after surgery. Postoperative showering does not increase the risk of surgical site complications. It may increase patients' satisfaction and lower the cost of wound care.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Nursing, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan †Department of Surgery, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan ‡Institute of Statistical Science, Academia Sinica, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan §Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan ¶Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan ||Department of Traumatology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan **School of Nursing, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pei-Yin
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Kuen-Yuan
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hsuan-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wang-Huei
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.forename: Chin-Hao
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Chiou-Ling
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Pin-Yi
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Chiag
authors.forename: Hsiao-Ping
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chin-Wen
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Shiao
authors.forename: Po-Chu
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hao-Chih
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Tai
authors.forename: Hsiung-Fei
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Po-Jui
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Been-Ren
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yeur-Hur
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Jin-Shing
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hong-Shiee
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lai
mesh_terms: D001494:Baths / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing