Intraoperative Hygiene Measures and Surgical Site Infections

Intraoperative Hygiene Measures and Rates of Surgical Wound Infection in General Surgery

Surgical site infections are associated with high morbidity and cost Hypothesis: Extended intraoperative hygiene measures decrease surgical site infections in general surgery compared to standard hygiene measures.

Intraoperatively two types of hygiene measures were performed randomly: standard and extensive. Standard hygiene measures included empiric accepted measures (e.g. gloves, masks, disinfection). Extensive hygiene measures included among others: double gloving, astro caps, extensive disinfection, extensive intraoperative rinsing. In addition, intraoperative adherence to the rules of asepsis were registered by an independent observer.

Patients were followed for 30 days.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patient undergoing surgical operation in one of two assigned operative theaters. Only initial operations are studied

Exclusion Criteria:

• Previous inclusion into study