A study in the Journal of Arthroplasty found that repeated application of surgical site preparation solutions reduces the rate of infection following total joint arthroplasty.
The researchers analyzed 577 patients who received primary total joint arthroplasty at a single institution. Patients in the intervention group received surgical site preparation solutions at two points during the application of the adhesive drape, while patients in the control group received a single surgical site preparation solution prior to draping. Following surgery, the researchers compared rates of surgical site infection and blistering.
Here's what you need to know:
1. There was a significant reduction in superficial surgical site infections for the intervention group compared to the control group; the intervention group had a 1.8 percent rate of infection, while the control group had a 6.5 percent rate of infection.
2. In the intervention group, there were two organ-space surgical site infections.
3. In the control group, there were two deep-incisional surgical site infections.
4. The intervention group had a 3.5 percent rate of skin blistering, while the control group had a 6.5 percent rate of skin blistering; however, this difference was not statistically significant.
5. The researchers concluded that reapplication of surgical site preparation solutions help to reduce the rate of infection for patients undergoing elective total joint arthroplasty.