A comparative study of surgical skin preparation methods.

Analysis of a randomized study of preoperative skin preparation techniques in thoracic and general surgical patients revealed that the use of a one minute alcohol cleansing and application of an antimicrobial film provides equivalent bactericidal activity to a five minute iodophor scrub and paint. Initial bacterial kill is greater with a one minute alcohol cleansing than a five minute iodophor scrub. There were fewer patients with high bacterial counts at the time of closure in the groups treated with the antimicrobial film than in the traditional iodophor scrub group. Saving in preoperative operating room time can be achieved using a one minute alcohol cleansing plus application of an antimicrobial film with equal antibacterial efficacy to that of conventional methods.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes