[Preoperative skin preparation in abdominal surgery]

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Surgical Site Infection Prevention
• Medical Procedures

Context:

• Mechanical skin preparation is a routine nursing task before abdominal surgery.
• Current literature provides evidence-based recommendations for optimizing this procedure.
• Standardization of the optimal method is still lacking.

Purpose:

• To review and synthesize evidence-based practices for mechanical skin preparation in abdominal surgery.
• To identify the most effective methods for reducing surgical wound infections.
• To highlight areas lacking sufficient data, such as depilatory cream efficacy and cost-effectiveness.

Summary:

• Non-shaving or depilation using an electric clipper is associated with the lowest surgical wound infection rates.
• Shaving the operative field immediately prior to surgery also demonstrates a reduced infection rate.
• The efficacy of depilatory creams for surgical site preparation remains unproven, with no data on patient acceptability or cost.

Impact:

• Provides evidence-based guidance for nurses and surgical teams to minimize surgical site infections.
• Highlights the need for further research into depilatory creams and the economic aspects of hair removal methods.
• Contributes to improved patient outcomes and potentially reduced healthcare costs through effective infection control.