Perioperative hair removal in the 21st century: utilizing an innovative vacuum-assisted technology to safely expedite hair removal before surgery.

Background: Perioperative hair removal using clippers requires lengthy cleanup to remove loose hairs contaminating the operative field. We compared the amount of hair debris and associated microbiologic contamination produced during clipping of surgical sites using standard surgical clippers (SSC) o...

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Main Authors: Edmiston, Charles E., Griggs, Russell K., Tanner, Judith, Spencer, Maureen, Seabrook, Gary R., Leaper, David
Format: Article
Published: Elsevier 2016
Subjects:
Online Access:https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35516/
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author Edmiston, Charles E.
Griggs, Russell K.
Tanner, Judith
Spencer, Maureen
Seabrook, Gary R.
Leaper, David
author_facet Edmiston, Charles E.
Griggs, Russell K.
Tanner, Judith
Spencer, Maureen
Seabrook, Gary R.
Leaper, David
author_sort Edmiston, Charles E.
building Nottingham Research Data Repository
collection Online Access
description Background: Perioperative hair removal using clippers requires lengthy cleanup to remove loose hairs contaminating the operative field. We compared the amount of hair debris and associated microbiologic contamination produced during clipping of surgical sites using standard surgical clippers (SSC) or clippers fitted with a vacuum-assisted hair collection device (SCVAD). Methods: Trained nurses conducted bilateral hair clipping of the chest and groin of 18 male subjects using SSC or SCVAD. Before and during clipping, measurements of particulate matter and bacterial contamination were evaluated on settling plates placed next to each subject’s chest and groin. Skin condition after clipping and total clipping/cleanup times were compared between SSC and SCVAD. Results: The microbial burden recovered from residual hair during cleanup in the SSC group was 3.9 log10 CFU and 4.6 log10 CFU from respective, chest, and groin areas. Use of the SCVAD resulted in a significant (P < .001) reduction in both residual hair and microbial contamination within the operative field compared with SSC. Conclusions: Use of SCVAD resulted in significant (P< .001) reduction in total time required to clip and clean up residual hair contaminating the operative field compared with standard practice (ie, SSC), eliminating the need to physically remove dispersed hairs, which can harbor a significant microbial burden, from within the operative field.
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spelling nottingham-355162020-05-04T17:54:30Z https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35516/ Perioperative hair removal in the 21st century: utilizing an innovative vacuum-assisted technology to safely expedite hair removal before surgery. Edmiston, Charles E. Griggs, Russell K. Tanner, Judith Spencer, Maureen Seabrook, Gary R. Leaper, David Background: Perioperative hair removal using clippers requires lengthy cleanup to remove loose hairs contaminating the operative field. We compared the amount of hair debris and associated microbiologic contamination produced during clipping of surgical sites using standard surgical clippers (SSC) or clippers fitted with a vacuum-assisted hair collection device (SCVAD). Methods: Trained nurses conducted bilateral hair clipping of the chest and groin of 18 male subjects using SSC or SCVAD. Before and during clipping, measurements of particulate matter and bacterial contamination were evaluated on settling plates placed next to each subject’s chest and groin. Skin condition after clipping and total clipping/cleanup times were compared between SSC and SCVAD. Results: The microbial burden recovered from residual hair during cleanup in the SSC group was 3.9 log10 CFU and 4.6 log10 CFU from respective, chest, and groin areas. Use of the SCVAD resulted in a significant (P < .001) reduction in both residual hair and microbial contamination within the operative field compared with SSC. Conclusions: Use of SCVAD resulted in significant (P< .001) reduction in total time required to clip and clean up residual hair contaminating the operative field compared with standard practice (ie, SSC), eliminating the need to physically remove dispersed hairs, which can harbor a significant microbial burden, from within the operative field. Elsevier 2016-06-30 Article PeerReviewed Edmiston, Charles E., Griggs, Russell K., Tanner, Judith, Spencer, Maureen, Seabrook, Gary R. and Leaper, David (2016) Perioperative hair removal in the 21st century: utilizing an innovative vacuum-assisted technology to safely expedite hair removal before surgery. American Journal of Infection Control . ISSN 0196-6553 Postoperative wound infection; Surgical clippers; Microbial bioburden; Transepidermal water loss http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196655316304886 doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2016.03.071 doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2016.03.071
spellingShingle Postoperative wound infection; Surgical clippers; Microbial bioburden; Transepidermal water loss
Edmiston, Charles E.
Griggs, Russell K.
Tanner, Judith
Spencer, Maureen
Seabrook, Gary R.
Leaper, David
Perioperative hair removal in the 21st century: utilizing an innovative vacuum-assisted technology to safely expedite hair removal before surgery.
title Perioperative hair removal in the 21st century: utilizing an innovative vacuum-assisted technology to safely expedite hair removal before surgery.
title_full Perioperative hair removal in the 21st century: utilizing an innovative vacuum-assisted technology to safely expedite hair removal before surgery.
title_fullStr Perioperative hair removal in the 21st century: utilizing an innovative vacuum-assisted technology to safely expedite hair removal before surgery.
title_full_unstemmed Perioperative hair removal in the 21st century: utilizing an innovative vacuum-assisted technology to safely expedite hair removal before surgery.
title_short Perioperative hair removal in the 21st century: utilizing an innovative vacuum-assisted technology to safely expedite hair removal before surgery.
title_sort perioperative hair removal in the 21st century: utilizing an innovative vacuum-assisted technology to safely expedite hair removal before surgery.
topic Postoperative wound infection; Surgical clippers; Microbial bioburden; Transepidermal water loss
url https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35516/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35516/
https://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/35516/