Minimizing hair dispersal: Is this an opportunity for improvement in health care-acquired infection prevention?
We performed a study to understand common practices in surgical site hair removal and barriers to guideline compliance in surgical site hair removal. We found most health care providers in the United States do not remove hair outside of the operating room. Our findings reveal minimizing hair dispersal in the operating room, including improved and innovative ways for collecting clipped loose hair, is a significant area for improvement in surgical quality and health care-acquired infection prevention.
Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC. Electronic address: Christopher.mantyh@duke.edu.
Christopher R
CR
Mantyh
Becton, Dickinson and Company, Vernon Hills, IL.
Hugo
H
Xi
Becton, Dickinson and Company, Vernon Hills, IL.
Lena
L
Pearson
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, UTSouthwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX.
Trish M
TM
Perl
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006204:Hair Removal; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
Hair dispersal; Health care–acquired infection; Infection control interventions; Prevention; Surgery; Surgical site hair removal