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 .
Air contamination during skin preparation and draping in joint replacement surgery.
Despite the use of ultraclean air , there are still cases of infection in total joint arthroplasty . One possible route by which bacteria may enter the wound is indirectly by contamination of instruments during skin preparation and draping . We found that bacterial air counts were 4.4 times higher during preparation and draping for hip or knee arthroplasty using an unscrubbed , ungowned leg holder than during the operation itself . With the leg holder scrubbed and gowned during preparation and draping , the air counts were reduced but were still 2.4 fold greater than intraoperatively . On some occasions , the air counts during preparation and draping exceeded the st and ards for ultraclean air irrespective of the attire of the leg holder . We recommend that the leg is held by a scrubbed and gowned member of the team . More importantly , we consider that instrument packs should be opened only after skin preparation and draping have been completed
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 .