Newer infection prevention techniques , such as preoperative antiseptic scrubbing , are affected and may help reduce the infection rate , while traditionally accepted methods of prophylaxis such as laminar-flow operating rooms and body exhaust suits may raise the infection rate
Despite advances in our underst and ing of surgical site infections following total joint arthroplasty , this serious surgical complication continues to represent a substantial economic burden for the patient , the treating institution and the healthcare system .
After increasing for the past decade , infection rates have stabilized at 1.6 % ; however , the total cost is projected to increase with the total number of revision procedures performed .
Presurgical Skin Preparation With a Novel 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate Cloth Reduces Rates of Surgical Site Infection in Orthopaedic Surgical Patients
BACKGROUND Postoperative surgical site infections ( SSIs ) are a common complication of joint surgery . Prevention depends on adequate preoperative skin antisepsis . In previous studies , use of a 2 % chlorhexidine gluconate ( CHG ) no-rinse cloth reduced SSI rates in general surgery patients . METHODS Patients admitted for a total joint procedure used a skin antisepsis protocol incorporating 2 % CHG no-rinse cloths to do a site-specific wash on the night before surgery and in the holding area just before surgery . RESULTS In the 3 quarters before implementation of the protocol , the SSI rate was 3.19 % . In the 3 quarters after the 2 % CHG cloth was introduced , the SSI rate decreased to 1.59 % , representing a 50.16 % reduction in SSIs . CONCLUSIONS The rate of SSI was cut in half after the introduction of 2 % CHG no-rinse cloths in the place of a povidone-iodine ( Betadine ) skin antiseptic in orthopaedic patients undergoing total joint procedures . Further testing using r and omization comparative protocol s are required to conclude that the decreased SSI was in fact a direct result of the 2 % CHG protocol
Newer infection prevention techniques , such as preoperative antiseptic scrubbing , are affected and may help reduce the infection rate , while traditionally accepted methods of prophylaxis such as laminar-flow operating rooms and body exhaust suits may raise the infection rate
Despite advances in our underst and ing of surgical site infections following total joint arthroplasty , this serious surgical complication continues to represent a substantial economic burden for the patient , the treating institution and the healthcare system .
After increasing for the past decade , infection rates have stabilized at 1.6 % ; however , the total cost is projected to increase with the total number of revision procedures performed .