Neuraxial Anesthesia and the Use of Sterile Gowning

Epidural or spinal anesthesia-related infections cause serious and devastating morbidity and mortality. The possible infectious complications of neuraxial anesthesia have become better understood in the past 10 years. We assessed information from published case series, studies, randomized controlled trials, and retrospective cohort studies to determine the rate of neuraxial infection and to evaluate iatrogenic causes of infection. The use of sterile gowning appears to be a factor associated with the decreased infection rates noted in some studies. A review of the literature demonstrated that personnel in interdisciplinary specialties use gowns for invasive procedures to prevent infection, and national and international multidisciplinary health care professionals appear to be increasing their use of sterile gowning to prevent infections. We undertook this literature review to explore the incidence of neuraxial infection, provide additional insight into multidisciplinary standards, and evaluate whether the use of sterile gowns while performing neuraxial anesthesia decreases infection rates.