Effect of chlorhexidine scrub on postoperative bacterial counts

Area of Science:

• Surgical Infection Prevention
• Antimicrobial Efficacy
• Healthcare Epidemiology

Background:

• Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain a significant concern in healthcare.
• Maintaining low bacterial counts on surgical personnel's hands is crucial for preventing SSIs.
• Current protocols may not fully eliminate bacterial load post-scrubbing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of leaving chlorhexidine surgical scrub on surgeons' hands postoperatively.
• To determine if this technique reduces bacterial counts on hands after surgical procedures.
• To assess the potential for decreased wound contamination in cases of glove perforation.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study involving 50 orthopedic and vascular procedures.
• Surgeons performed a standard 5-minute chlorhexidine scrub.
• One hand was rinsed, while the other retained residual scrub foam before gloving.
• Postoperative bacterial cultures were obtained from both hands using tryptic soy broth immersion.

Main Results:

• Significantly fewer bacterial colonies were isolated from the hand with residual chlorhexidine scrub (p < 0.005).
• A non-significant trend suggested higher bacterial counts after longer surgical durations.
• No instances of dermatitis were reported by the surgeon during the study period.

Conclusions:

• Leaving chlorhexidine surgical scrub on hands during surgery effectively lowers postoperative bacterial counts.
• This practice may reduce the risk of surgical wound contamination if glove integrity is compromised.
• The technique appears safe and well-tolerated, with no observed adverse skin reactions.