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

Abstract

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 

Citation

Edmiston, C. E., Griggs, R. K., Tanner, J., Spencer, M., Seabrook, G. R., & Leaper, D. (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, 44(12), 1639-1644. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2016.03.071

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 3, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jun 30, 2016
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jul 28, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 28, 2016
• Journal: American Journal of Infection Control
• Print ISSN: 0196-6553
• Electronic ISSN: 1527-3296
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 44
• Issue: 12
• Pages: 1639-1644
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2016.03.071
• Keywords: Postoperative wound infection; Surgical clippers; Microbial bioburden; Transepidermal water loss
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/792801
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196655316304886
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Perioperative hair removal in the 21st century: Utilizing an innovative vacuum-assisted technology to safely expedite hair removal before surgery; Journal Title: American Journal of Infection Control; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2016.03.071; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2016 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
• Contract Date: Jul 28, 2016