Comparative Evaluation of Two Surgical Scrub Preparations in Cattle

Abstract

One hundred seventeen cattle that had undergone surgery were assigned randomly to two preoperative skin preparation protocols. Group 1 (60 animals) skin preparation was with povidoneiodine soap and isopropyl alcohol, whereas group 2 (57 animals) had skin preparation with chlorhexidine gluconate and isopropyl alcohol. Quantitative microbial culture plates were used to estimate the number of colony forming units (CFUs) before skin preparation (prescrub), after skin preparation (postscrub), after surgery (postoperative), and in room air (environment). A significant decrease in CFU occurred postscrub for both skin preparations (P < .05). Chlorhexidine and alcohol preparation resulted in significantly fewer CFUs (LSMean +/- SE = 2.79 CFU +/- 1.74) and a greater percentage reduction in CFUs (98.64% +/- 2.01) postscrub than providone and alcohol (LSMean +/- SE = 10.27 CFUs +/- 1.51, 93.29% +/- 1.85); (P < .005). Group 2 had a significantly higher frequency of negative cultures postscrub (49.1%) compared with group 1 (18.3%) (P < .001). The number of postoperative CFUs were not significantly different between the two treatment groups. Wound infection frequency for clean surgical procedures was not significantly different between the two skin preparation protocols (group 1 = 9.8%, group 2 = 10.7%), however, infection frequency was significantly higher for surgical procedures with a ventral abdominal approach (5 of 14, 35.7%,) compared with a flank approach (1 of 41, 2.4%) or other approaches (orthopedic procedures) (1 of 16, 6.3%) (P < .05). Both skin preparation protocols were effective and safe in decreasing the skin microflora population of cattle before surgery and although preparation with chlorhexidine gluconate and alcohol resulted in less CFUs immediately postscrub, the frequency of surgical wound infection was similar for both protocols.

Comparison of three preoperative skin preparation techniques in ponies

“…In our study, there was no contamination from the periodic rinsing with 70% alcohol, and we concluded that a cleansing scrub of >5 min would have increased the bacterial reduction to a level comparable to the CG. In cattle, Desrochers et al (1996) reported similar results; CG resulted in a greater reduction in bacteria than PI after the cleansing scrub. The importance of bacterial reduction after the cleansing scrub is questionable, providing that sterile scrub is performed; however, in a clinical situation, where a sterile scrub is not performed, CG could be expected to perform better than PI.…”

“…In our study, there was no contamination from the periodic rinsing with 70% alcohol, and we concluded that a cleansing scrub of >5 min would have increased the bacterial reduction to a level comparable to the CG. In cattle, Desrochers et al . (1996) reported similar results; CG resulted in a greater reduction in bacteria than PI after the cleansing scrub.…”

Incisional complications following exploratory celiotomy: does an abdominal bandage reduce the risk?

“…A higher incidence of incisional complications following cleancontaminated emergency surgical procedures has been reported in Equidae compared to other species, with rates of 5% (Vasseur et al 1985(Vasseur et al , 1988 and 15% (Desrochers et al 1996) reported for small animals and cattle, respectively, compared to at least 24% in horses (Wilson et al 1995;Honnas and Cohen 1997;Ingle-Fehr et al 1997). Incisional complications, ranging from oedema and drainage to more serious complications, including infection and acute dehiscence, occur relatively commonly following exploratory celiotomy (Kobluk et al 1989;Wilson et al 1995).…”

Cheek teeth apical infection in cattle: Diagnosis, surgical extraction, and prognosis

“…Tooth extraction is considered a contaminated procedure, which carries a risk of infection up to 27% in cattle. 28 Affected sites eventually healed without apparent deformation of the mandible or the maxilla at follow-up. Surgery involving the maxillary teeth seemed prone to perioperative complications, with postoperative SSI affecting all sites with maxillary sinus flaps.…”

“…Surgical site infection was the most frequent postoperative complication in this study and appeared to be more severe when retrograde repulsion was performed or when the dental plug was lost prematurely (<3 weeks postoperatively). Tooth extraction is considered a contaminated procedure, which carries a risk of infection up to 27% in cattle . Affected sites eventually healed without apparent deformation of the mandible or the maxilla at follow‐up.…”