Preoperative hair removal with clippers does not increase infection rate in clean surgical wounds

For a one year period, hair was removed from the operative site with clippers rather than by shaving with a razor or by application of depilatories. The study involved comparison of clean (Class I) wound infection rates in 2,580 patients after clipping was instituted compared with 17,424 patients studied in seven preceding years. There was no significant change in the wound infection rate (1 per cent) when compared with the three years immediately preceding. There was no change in the identified distribution of the infecting organism. Failure to show a clear reduction in wound infection rate was probably related to the low historic base line rate. There were definite benefits achieved by avoiding cancellation of elective operations, by using operating room personnel more efficiently and by expediating the surgical schedule.