Objective: To review the evidence regarding antisepsis and decolonization of the skin of the
patient and surgeon for the prevention of surgical site infection (SSI).
Data Sources: General bibliographic and specialist computer databases, along with manual
searching of reference lists of primary and review articles, were used to search for relevant
peer-reviewed citations
Results: Antisepsis of the surgical site and of the hands of the surgeon is a mainstay in the
prevention of SSI. Waterless and scrubless alcohol-based products are an alternative to traditional
antiseptic scrubs. Chlorhexidine-based products for skin preparation at the surgical
site have proved superior to other preparation products for bacterial decolonization. The efficacy
of routine preoperative decolonization strategies, including the use of nasal mupirocin
ointment and antiseptic body washes, has not been established definitively by randomized
clinical trials
Conclusions: Antisepsis of the skin of patient and surgeon are important in the prevention
of SSI. Preoperative decolonization strategies for prevention of SSI, particularly those caused
by antibiotic-resistant organisms, remain controversial
