The Patient
Unit 5: Surgery Preparation
The patients own microbial flora is the most common source of contamination at the time of surgery.
Normal resident flora of canine skin include Staphylococcus epidermidis, Corynebacterium spp. and Pityrosporon spp., while transient pathogens include Staphylococcus aureus, S. intermedius, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus spp., Enterobacter spp. and Clostridium spp.
It is impossible to sterilise skin but proper preoperative preparation can significantly reduce exposure to this flora.
Patient preparation entails removing hair from the surgical site and adjacent area, cleansing and the use of antiseptics on the skin, and aseptic draping of the surgical site. The first two procedures are best carried out in a preparation area outside of the operating theatre.
For elective procedures where surgery can be planned, it can be advantageous for the patient to be given a bath the day before surgery.
Proper preoperative preparation of the patient prior to surgery is probably the most critical process in reducing the incidence of wound infection.