{"id":190,"date":"2022-11-23T15:49:01","date_gmt":"2022-11-23T15:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/perioperative1001.slc-courses.ca\/?p=190"},"modified":"2022-12-15T18:13:58","modified_gmt":"2022-12-15T18:13:58","slug":"module-4-a-skin-preparation-and-patient-skin-antisepsis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/perioperative1001.slc-courses.ca\/?p=190","title":{"rendered":"Module 4: A. Skin Preparation and Patient Skin Antisepsis"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Skin Preparation and Patient Skin Antisepsis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You learned in course one that the skin cannot be made sterile; therefore, skin antisepsis refers to the removal of dirt and transient microbes to reduce the count on the skin surface and prevent microbial rebound growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skin preparation may begin before a patient even sets foot into the surgical suite and includes more than just the surgical typical \u2018prep\u2019 solution. Additional steps can include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Pre-operative cleaning wipes or pre-operative baths.<\/li>
  2. Removing hair in the surgical site.<\/li>
  3. Pre-scrub washes in the operating room.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    (King & Spry, 2019)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n
    \n
    \n
    Pre-Operative Bathing<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    Evidence has shown that bathing the night before or the day of surgery with soap or a provided antiseptic, can <\/a>help reduce microbial skin count and lower the patient\u2019s risk of developing a surgical site infection (SSI).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Depending on the surgical site and the institution’s protocol, patients may be provided with a chlorhexidine-based soap product and asked to use it before coming to the hospital. Inpatients or sites with access to pre-operative patient skin preparation wipes may have patients perform a focused cleansing in the pre-operative area or the inpatient unit prior to entering the OR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Patient Bathing<\/strong><\/p>

    An example of instructions for an Ontario pediatric hospital…<\/p>Read Article<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    (WHO, 2018)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

    \n
    \n\n\n\n
    Hair Removal Before Surgery<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    Years ago, it was common to see patients having large areas of their bodies shaved prior to surgery. The best evidence now shows that this is NOT recommended. The World Health Organization and ORNAC recommend that hair should not be removed unless <\/a>necessary, and if so, it should be clipped and not shaved. Shaving can cause irritation or abrasions to the skin surface and increase the risk of <\/a>SSIs (Surgical Site Infections).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    ORNAC recommends that required hair clipping be <\/a>done no more than two hours before the surgical start time. Evidence has shown a correlation between the length of time between clipping and the surgery in terms of SSIs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Any clipping that is done before surgery, must be done with care, ensuring that all clippings are <\/a>collected, and stray hair is not left on the surgical site. <\/a>Often the perioperative team members use tape to collect any stray hairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    (ORNAC, 2021 \u2013 2.19.16; Phillips & Hornacky, 2021; WHO, 2018)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n\n\n\n
    Pre-Surgical Scrub and Areas Requiring Additional Care<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    When a patient arrives in the OR with an open wound, trauma, infection, or areas requiring additional care, the surgeon may choose to cleanse the area or perform a pre-surgical scrub prior to prepping. A pre-surgical scrub contains an antiseptic detergent and is helpful to remove microbes and debris before performing the surgical prep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some areas requiring additional care include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n