Which of the Following Would Reduce a Patient's Risk of Acquiring

Question

Which of the following would reduce a patient's risk of acquiring surgical wound infection?
A)Reducing his preoperative stay in hospital.
B)Prophylaxis with antimicrobial drugs.
C)Strict asepsis when changing his dressings.
D)Use of skin antiseptic before the surgical incision is made.
E)All of the above.

Accepted Answer

Reducing preoperative stay in hospital can reduce the risk of exposure to other hospital-acquired infections. Prophylaxis with antimicrobial drugs can prevent colonization and growth of bacteria on the wound. Strict asepsis when changing dressings can prevent introduction of new bacteria to the wound. Use of skin antiseptic before surgical incision can reduce the bacterial load on the skin, further reducing the risk of surgical wound infection. Therefore, all of the above measures are effective in reducing a patient's risk of acquiring surgical wound infection.