Surgical Site Antiseptics

Rubbing alcohol, also known as isopropyl alcohol “refers to two water-soluble chemical compounds—ethyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol—that have generally underrated germicidal characteristics” (“Guideline for Disinfection and Sterilization in Healthcare Facilities”). Ethyl alcohol kills bacteria in two ways: “protein denaturation and dissolving the lipid membrane” (“How Does Ethyl Alcohol Kill Bacteria?“). Next, Betadine, also known as Povidone-iodine is a solution [that is] often used in hand scrubs and hand rubs in hospital settings” (Ngan). It is used in “Treating minor wounds and infections, as well as killing bacteria” (“Povidone/ iodine solution”). Povidone-iodine’s way of killing bacteria is still being researched and “is yet to be fully understood, [but] it appears to have the ability to penetrate the cell wall of bacteria and affect their structure and function. This ensures their rapid destruction and helps protect against wound and skin infection” (“What is an Antiseptic”). Germ-X Hand Sanitizer is a hand gel that is used for waterless “washing” of hands to kill germs on the surface. It is an antiseptic primarily used by those who want to kill germs quickly and cannot wash their hands (Samuels). The formula contains about 63 percent ethyl alcohol according to livestrong.com (Samuels). Neosporin is a topical antibiotic used to

5. Poulin,P., et al.(2014) Preoperative Skin Antiseptics for preventing surgical site infections: What to do?

Antiseptics are chemical agents that slow or stop the growth of micro-organisms (germs) on external surfaces of the body, that is why they are suitable to use on the skin as they are designed for that pacific reason to stop bacterial growth or any other microorganisms from spreading or causing infection on the skin and external surfaces on the body. Antiseptics should be distinguished from antibiotics that destroy micro-organisms inside the body, and from disinfectants, which destroy micro-organisms found on inanimate (non-living) objects. Antibiotics and disinfectant are designed for other reasons as you can see and contain some different chemical agents that maybe harsh on the human skin so that is why disinfectants and antibiotics may not be suitable on the skin. (http://dermnetnz.org/treatments/antiseptics.html)

This essay will examine and compare the different methods of hand washing in the perioperative environment and how hand washing influences the prevention of healthcare acquired infections (HCAIs). It will show the importance of washing hands thoroughly to remove bacteria to prevent HCAIs. It will include the differences between the surgical hand wash, the social hand wash and the use of alcohol rubs.

By Joseph Lister using antiseptics in surgery, the cleanliness of modern surgery is very sanitary and does not cause infection to patients and many of the infections led to amputations and death.

The proposed evidence-based practice change is to reduce the incidence of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and/or multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) through the daily use of chlorhexidine-impregnated wipes or chlorhexidine soap among patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) and medical-surgical units. Chlorhexidine gluconate is a broad-spectrum, antiseptic agent against several pathogens, such as S. aureus and enterococcus species (Climo et al., 2013, p. 534). Daily baths will be emphasized to patients with the current diagnosis of a HAIs, MDROs or are currently and/or have chronic suppressed immune systems. Furthermore, providing education to staff and patients and their families regarding the prevention of HAIs and MDROs through the use of chlorhexidine bath products will help implement this EBP change.

Chlorhexidine oral rinse is included in the standard protocol for cardiac surgery patients (Martin, 2010). References So What Does This All Mean? Ventilator Associated Pneumonia Boeser, K., Ingalls, L., Retzer, K., Tescher, A., Tismer, S., Weiner, C., & Wiersgallas, S. (2011). Prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia. Health care protocol. Institute for Clinical System Improvement.

It all began with Joseph Lister a pioneer in antiseptic surgical approaches introduced new principles of cleanliness which transformed surgical practice in the late 1800s. We take it for granted that a surgeon will guard a patient 's safety by using aseptic methods. But this was not always the case, and until Lister introduced sterile surgery, a patient could undergo a procedure successfully only to die from a postoperative infection known as ‘ward fever’. Lister read about the experiments in fermentation conducted by French chemist Louis Pasteur and conducted his own experiments to conclude that micro-organisms were responsible for the infections in patients. He set about trying to find an effective method of eliminating the micro-organisms by exposing them to strong chemicals. After extensive experimentation, he found an effective antiseptic in carbolic acid. He treated the surgical instruments and wounds of patients with the chemical and discovered that when the solution was swabbed on

Chest is the most commonly used incision area for cardiac surgery patient. Surgery surgical site infection (SSI) is life-threatening complication ranked as 3rd among all infection in health care facilities. SSI results morbidity mortality and increases medical expenses. Thus its is important to strengthened measures to prevent and control SSI. Uncleanness of surgical area can occur at any period of time before during and after. Numerous factors can contribute to the happening of SSI. To decrease the occurrence of SSI and improved quality of patient’s care, it is necessary to find out risk factor. Gain knowledge for planning and implementation of strategies for prevention and control of the infection is vital. Author of this paper would like

In order to control the growth and spread of harmful microbes that can cause disease, we use antimicrobial agent. Disinfectants are antimicrobial agents that are use in a physical process or used in a form of a chemical agent. Disinfectants are used to destroy vegetative pathogen but are not effective against bacterial endospores. Disinfectants remove harmful products of toxins from material and usually are used on inanimate objects since they can be harmful to human tissues. Another antimicrobial agent used is, antibiotics. Antibiotics are usually prescribed to a person to cure a bacterial or viral infection. Antibiotics are used to inhibit the growth of infectious agents in the human body. The disk diffusion test known as the Kirby-Bauer

There are different types of nosocomial or healthcare associated infections. These are categorized according to the site of infection and they include pneumonia, gastrointestinal illness, urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, and surgical site infections (CDC, 2015). This paper seeks to review the current practice of surgical site infection prevention protocol as well as seeks to proffer recommended

A strategy that was also put into practice to decrease the risk of infections of central lines was the implementation of Chlorhexidine-impregnated dressings. This strategy was further discussed in the article “Chlorhexidine-Impregnated Dressings and Prevention of

As I did my research evaluation on alcohol-based antiseptics used in the surgical patient, I found that Saunders Medical Center has a protocol of using Betadine in prepping their surgery patients. Staying up-to-date with the best evidence-based research, allows for measures to be implemented that can save time and money for the units, hospital, and patients. The use of Betadine saves the OR money. The nurse manager has the power to implement these protocols and policies to help reduce cost in their patient

Surgical site infections account for 40 % of all hospital-acquired infections ( HAIs) and are unnecessary and largely preventable. Use of antibiotics is fundamental in preventing surgical site infection and includes

One of the most important component of reducing infections while changing a central line dressing is to reduce the colonization of microorganism at the insertion site. Evidence practice has shown that scrubbing