Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection

Abstract

Whilst this review found no statistically significant effect on SSI rates of hair removal insufficient numbers of people have been involved in this research to allow confidence in a conclusion. When it is necessary to remove hair, the existing evidence suggests that clippers are associated with fewer SSIs than razors. There was no significant difference in SSI rates between depilatory creams and shaving, or between shaving or clipping the day before surgery or on the day of surgery however studies were small and more research is needed.

Identification of predictive factors for surgical site infections in gastrointestinal surgeries: A retrospective cross-sectional study in a resource-limited setting

“…6,32 Furthermore, administering antibiotics one hour before operation has been reported as a predictor for SSI in previous studies. 23,33 In this study, it was observed that longer operation durations and administration of antibiotics more than one hour before the operation increased the likelihood of SSI by 1.02 times and 3.01 times, respectively. These findings are consistent with previous studies that showed the importance of re-dosing when this duration reaches the half-life of the administered antibiotic and guidelines recommend it.…”

“…Hair removal on the day of surgery may also reduce risk. 33 On the other hand, Zhang et al reported that patients undergoing hair removal (the day of surgery or the night before surgery) had lower SSI incidence compared with those without hair removal. 34 In this study, we investigated the microorganisms responsible for SSIs and their susceptibility to commonly prescribed prophylactic antibiotics.…”

Identification of predictive factors for surgical site infections in gastrointestinal surgeries: A retrospective cross-sectional study in a resource-limited setting

“…6,32 Furthermore, administering antibiotics one hour before operation has been reported as a predictor for SSI in previous studies. 23,33 In this study, it was observed that longer operation durations and administration of antibiotics more than one hour before the operation increased the likelihood of SSI by 1.02 times and 3.01 times, respectively. These findings are consistent with previous studies that showed the importance of re-dosing when this duration reaches the half-life of the administered antibiotic and guidelines recommend it.…”

“…Hair removal on the day of surgery may also reduce risk. 33 On the other hand, Zhang et al reported that patients undergoing hair removal (the day of surgery or the night before surgery) had lower SSI incidence compared with those without hair removal. 34 In this study, we investigated the microorganisms responsible for SSIs and their susceptibility to commonly prescribed prophylactic antibiotics.…”

Guidelines for Perioperative Care in Cardiac Surgery

“…Clarity on the preferability of continuous vs intermittent dosing of cefazolin requires further data . A meta-analysis of skin preparation and depilation protocols indicates that clipping is preferred to shaving . Clipping using electric clippers should occur close to the time of surgery .…”

Infection Prophylaxis in Urological Diagnostic and Surgical Procedures – A narrative review and Recommendations

“…Hair Removal: There is no formal recommendation regarding hair removal at the surgical incision site, despite its routine use in clinical practice ( 11 ). A meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration found no significant difference in SSI risk between no hair removal, chemical depilation, and clipping ( 12 ). However, shaving with a razor was associated with a higher risk of infection ( 13 ).…”

“…Another meta-analysis found no significant differences between shaving, clipping, no hair removal and depilatory cream in the frequency of surgical site infections ( 14 ). Regarding the timing of hair removal, no difference in infection risk was observed whether it was performed the day before or on the day of surgery ( 12 ).…”

Identification of predictive factors for surgical site infections in gastrointestinal surgeries: A retrospective cross-sectional study in a resource-limited setting

“…6,32 Furthermore, administering antibiotics one hour before operation has been reported as a predictor for SSI in previous studies. 23,33 In this study, it was observed that longer operation durations and administration of antibiotics more than one hour before the operation increased the likelihood of SSI by 1.02 times and 3.01 times, respectively. These findings are consistent with previous studies that showed the importance of re-dosing when this duration reaches the half-life of the administered antibiotic and guidelines recommend it.…”

“…Hair removal on the day of surgery may also reduce risk. 33 On the other hand, Zhang et al reported that patients undergoing hair removal (the day of surgery or the night before surgery) had lower SSI incidence compared with those without hair removal. 34 In this study, we investigated the microorganisms responsible for SSIs and their susceptibility to commonly prescribed prophylactic antibiotics.…”

Guidelines for Perioperative Care in Cardiac Surgery

“…Clarity on the preferability of continuous vs intermittent dosing of cefazolin requires further data . A meta-analysis of skin preparation and depilation protocols indicates that clipping is preferred to shaving . Clipping using electric clippers should occur close to the time of surgery .…”

Infection Prophylaxis in Urological Diagnostic and Surgical Procedures – A narrative review and Recommendations

“…Hair Removal: There is no formal recommendation regarding hair removal at the surgical incision site, despite its routine use in clinical practice ( 11 ). A meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration found no significant difference in SSI risk between no hair removal, chemical depilation, and clipping ( 12 ). However, shaving with a razor was associated with a higher risk of infection ( 13 ).…”

“…Another meta-analysis found no significant differences between shaving, clipping, no hair removal and depilatory cream in the frequency of surgical site infections ( 14 ). Regarding the timing of hair removal, no difference in infection risk was observed whether it was performed the day before or on the day of surgery ( 12 ).…”

Identification of predictive factors for surgical site infections in gastrointestinal surgeries: A retrospective cross-sectional study in a resource-limited setting

“…6,32 Furthermore, administering antibiotics one hour before operation has been reported as a predictor for SSI in previous studies. 23,33 In this study, it was observed that longer operation durations and administration of antibiotics more than one hour before the operation increased the likelihood of SSI by 1.02 times and 3.01 times, respectively. These findings are consistent with previous studies that showed the importance of re-dosing when this duration reaches the half-life of the administered antibiotic and guidelines recommend it.…”

“…Hair removal on the day of surgery may also reduce risk. 33 On the other hand, Zhang et al reported that patients undergoing hair removal (the day of surgery or the night before surgery) had lower SSI incidence compared with those without hair removal. 34 In this study, we investigated the microorganisms responsible for SSIs and their susceptibility to commonly prescribed prophylactic antibiotics.…”

Guidelines for Perioperative Care in Cardiac Surgery

“…Clarity on the preferability of continuous vs intermittent dosing of cefazolin requires further data . A meta-analysis of skin preparation and depilation protocols indicates that clipping is preferred to shaving . Clipping using electric clippers should occur close to the time of surgery .…”

Infection Prophylaxis in Urological Diagnostic and Surgical Procedures – A narrative review and Recommendations

“…Hair Removal: There is no formal recommendation regarding hair removal at the surgical incision site, despite its routine use in clinical practice ( 11 ). A meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration found no significant difference in SSI risk between no hair removal, chemical depilation, and clipping ( 12 ). However, shaving with a razor was associated with a higher risk of infection ( 13 ).…”

“…Another meta-analysis found no significant differences between shaving, clipping, no hair removal and depilatory cream in the frequency of surgical site infections ( 14 ). Regarding the timing of hair removal, no difference in infection risk was observed whether it was performed the day before or on the day of surgery ( 12 ).…”