Current use of skin and wound cleansers and antiseptics.

Out of the tumult of a turbulent, eight-century-long background of surgical skin and wound cleansing methods has come a set of basic principles that serve as performance specifications for new developments. Alcohol remains the superior skin antiseptic. Its characteristic rapid-drying effect and consequent loss of bactericidal action can be overcome by maintaining wetness or by admixture with emollients or longer-acting antiseptics. Today's combinations of cleaners, alcohol, and either iodophores or chlorhexidine have emerged from previous eras characterized by the use of metallic compounds, halogen compounds, and tincture of iodine. Published guidelines are important but must be looked upon as current consensus rather than standard practice.