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Related Concept Videos

Hand hygiene01:23

Hand hygiene

Asepsis is the practice of preventing or breaking the chain of infection. The nurse employs aseptic techniques to prevent the spread of microorganisms and reduce the risk of diseases. Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of aseptic techniques and is classified into medical and surgical asepsis. Medical asepsis includes hand hygiene and the use of gloves. Surgical asepsis, or the sterile technique, refers to practices that render and keep objects and areas free of microorganisms.
Hand washing...
Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Surface, Infiltration, and Conduction Block Anesthesia01:30

Local Anesthetics: Clinical Application as Surface, Infiltration, and Conduction Block Anesthesia

Depending on the target organ, local anesthetics (LAs) can be administered via various routes. In surface anesthesia, LAs are applied directly to the surface of the skin or mucous membranes. It is widely used for topical skin numbing before venipuncture or minor surgical procedures. Commonly used surface local anesthetics are lidocaine or benzocaine sprays or creams. Surface anesthesia occurs within 5 minutes and lasts for about 60 minutes. One of the main disadvantages of topical anesthesia is...
Local Anesthetics: Common Agents and Their Applications01:23

Local Anesthetics: Common Agents and Their Applications

Local anesthetics (LAs) are commonly used for various applications in medical and dental procedures. Some of the common agents used are cocaine, lidocaine, and bupivacaine.
Cocaine is an ester of benzoic acid and methylecgogine. It is used to anesthetize and vasoconstrict locally. Currently, it is used primarily for topical applications. It is beneficial for surgeries on the upper respiratory tract, providing anesthesia and shrinking the mucosa. Cocaine in the form of cocaine hydrochloride is...
Handwashing II: Pre-procedure and Initial Procedure Steps01:19

Handwashing II: Pre-procedure and Initial Procedure Steps

The pre-procedure steps of handwashing include removing jewelry and rolling up sleeves. However, many organizations allow staff to wear wedding rings.
The hand washing procedure itself includes the following steps. First, cover cuts, if any, on hands with a waterproof dressing. Cuts and abrasions can become contaminated with bacteria hindering the ability to clean the area thoroughly. In addition, repeated hand washing can worsen an injury.  The nails must be short and clean, without nail paint...
Cleaning, Sterilization, and Disinfection01:30

Cleaning, Sterilization, and Disinfection

Cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization are the methods that help to break the infection chain and prevent disease.
Cleaning
The cleaning process usually involves using water with detergents or enzymatic cleaner and removing foreign material from objects and surfaces, including organic material such as body fluids or inorganic material like soil. Cleaning is performed before high-level disinfection and sterilization because foreign materials on the cover of the devices interfere with process...
Pharmaceutical Alternatives: Stability-Related Therapeutic Nonequivalence01:22

Pharmaceutical Alternatives: Stability-Related Therapeutic Nonequivalence

Generic intravenous (IV) drugs are considered bioequivalent to their branded counterparts due to their 100% bioavailability upon administration. However, variations in stability among different drug products can significantly influence their therapeutic performance, even if they are pharmaceutically equivalent.Cefuroxime, a prophylactic antimicrobial, is often used as a single-dose IV injection for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. A 3 g dose typically provides...

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Updated: Jun 6, 2026

Povidone Iodine Rectal Preparation at Time of Prostate Needle Biopsy is a Simple and Reproducible Means to Reduce Risk of Procedural Infection
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Povidone Iodine Rectal Preparation at Time of Prostate Needle Biopsy is a Simple and Reproducible Means to Reduce Risk of Procedural Infection

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Intraoperative patient skin prep agents: is there a difference?

Jennifer Zinn1, Jeanne B Jenkins, Vangela Swofford

  • 1Moses Cone Health System, Greensboro, NC, USA.

AORN Journal
|December 7, 2010
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

No single intraoperative skin prep agent is superior for preventing surgical site infections. Choosing the best agent requires considering patient factors, surgical site, and product guidelines.

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Area of Science:

  • Infection Control
  • Surgical Safety
  • Antiseptic Efficacy

Background:

  • Surgical site infections (SSIs) pose a significant threat to patient safety and increase healthcare costs.
  • Intraoperative skin preparation is a critical intervention to minimize microbial contamination and prevent SSIs.
  • The selection of an appropriate antiseptic agent is crucial for effective surgical site preparation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review empirical evidence on the comparative efficacy of commonly used intraoperative skin prep agents.
  • To identify if any single agent demonstrates clear superiority in preventing SSIs in general surgery.
  • To inform clinical decision-making regarding the optimal choice of antiseptic agents.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of empirical studies on intraoperative skin prep agents.
  • Analysis of evidence for povidone-iodine, chlorhexidine gluconate, parachoroxylenol, and iodine povacrylex in isopropyl alcohol.
  • Focus on agents used in open abdominal, general surgery procedures within the health system.

Main Results:

  • Limited empirical evidence exists to definitively support one intraoperative skin prep agent as superior.
  • Each antiseptic agent possesses distinct mechanisms of action, advantages, and disadvantages.
  • No single agent was found to be universally superior across all clinical scenarios.

Conclusions:

  • The choice of intraoperative skin prep agent should be individualized.
  • Factors influencing selection include patient allergies, skin condition, contraindications, environmental risks, surgical site, and manufacturer guidelines.
  • A multifactorial approach is necessary for optimal perioperative skin antisepsis.