Better preoperative site cleaning by patients can reduce surgical infections

Infection is the most common complication of surgery and occurs at a rate of 1-15%. A group of experts from the Surgical Infection Society recently convened to discuss how to optimize the preoperative surgical site cleaning done by the patient to minimize the risk of infection. This expert Roundtable accompanies the current issue of Surgical Infections.

The comprehensive discussion entitled "Preoperative Preparation to Avoid Surgical Site Infections" covers a wide range of topics including the risk of infection in patients with diabetes who are morbidly obese or those who are underweight. Moderator Philip S. Barie, MD, MBA, Editor-in-Chief of Surgical Infections and Professor of Surgery and Public Health, Weill Cornell Medical College (New York, NY), also led a discussion on the use of prophylactic antibiotics and issues related to antibiotic resistance.

Expert panelists Kamal M.F. Itani, MD, Chief of Surgery, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, William G. Cheadle, MD, Associate Chief of Staff, Research, Development, and Resident Education, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Kentucky, and Donald E. Fry, MD, Professor Emeritus of Surgery, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, shared their opinions on which infectious microbes are of greatest concern in the surgical setting, and whether patients tend to perform preoperative preparations properly, including bowel cleansing for gastrointestinal procedures. The potential to improve patient compliance through mobile messaging, by sending patients voice or text reminders, is supported by clinical evidence.