1. Postoperative wound sepsis can double the normal patient hospital stay and significantly add to the cost of hospitalization. Close skin shaving prior to surgery (especially if done the night prior to surgery) is a contributing factor to postoperative wound sepsis rates. 2. This problem can be managed by selecting a preoperative shaving technique that rids the skin surface of hair, soils, and microorganisms, but still leaves the epidermal layer intact as a natural barrier against opportunistic microorganisms. 3. Hair removal at the surgical site is not the cause of postoperative wound sepsis. Preoperative techniques that remove hair shafts and not epidermal layers are important in managing this problem in the operating room.

Evaluation Studies as Topic↗

PubMed1988

Controlling infection as part of the bathing care process.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Baths↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Managing geriatric chronic constipation.

There is a relationship between low-fiber diet and chronic constipation, especially among inactive, geriatric nursing home and homebound patients. Increased bran fiber intake helps to promote normal bowel functioning among these patients.

Aged↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Controlling infection potentials when passing surgical instruments.

1. Recent research suggests that percutaneous injury occurs in 6.9% of observed surgical procedures. This finding indicates that percutaneous injuries occur often during surgery, placing OR personnel at risk for infection potential with bloodborne pathogens. 2. One approach to reducing the risk of injury with contaminated sharps is to introduce a change in the normal method of passing sharps. A new method, the "hands-free" technique, focuses on the safety of the OR professional without disrupting the established routine of the operating room. This new technique is designed to reduce the number of "collisions" between sharps and OR professionals. 3. Caution and staff education are important during any attempt to use hands-free instrument passing techniques in an OR setting. The hands-free technique of passing sharps should be practiced until all members of the surgical team have a high degree of comfort using it.

Humans↗