This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on Web of Science (647)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Peter J. E. Cruse, MB, ChB, FRCS (C); Rosemary Foord, RN

AMA Arch Surg. 1973;107(2):206-210.

Abstract
A prospective study was made of 23,649 surgical wounds. All wounds were examined by one person for 28 days after operation. National Research Council definitions and classifications were used. The overall infection rate was 4.75%, the clean rate was 1.81%. Sepsis became evident only after the patient had left the hospital in 13.2% of cases. Analysis of 15,389 clean wounds showed a reduction in the rate of infection in those using a hexachlorophene wash before operation and those whose operation site was not shaved. No reduction or increase in the rate of infection was observed when plastic skin drapes were used or when different hand-scrub preparations were used. Increase in the rate of infection occurred in old age, when drains were used, when there was a prolonged hospital stay before the operation, and when the duration of the operation was great.

Author Affiliations
Calgary, Alberta, Canada

From the Department of Surgery, Foothills Hospital, and the Division of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication March 30, 1973.

Read before the 30th annual meeting of the Central Surgical Association, Feb 23, 1973.

Reprint requests to 701 S Tower, 1315 29th St NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2N 2T8 (Dr. Cruse).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Surgical Treatment of Early Wound Complications Following Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty
Galat et al.
JBJS 2009;91:48-54.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prophylactic Antibiotic Compliance with Published Guidelines
Erstad and Schultz
Journal of Pharmacy Practice 2006;19:301-305.
ABSTRACT  

The Effectiveness of Using a Lipido-Colloid Dressing for Patients With Traumatic Digital Wounds
Ma et al.
Clin Nurs Res 2006;15:119-134.
ABSTRACT  

The management of complex soft-tissue defects after spinal instrumentation
Singh et al.
J Bone Joint Surg Br 2006;88-B:8-15.
FULL TEXT  

Superficial incisional infection in arthroplasty of the lower limb: INTEROBSERVER RELIABILITY OF THE CURRENT DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA
Allami et al.
J Bone Joint Surg Br 2005;87-B:1267-1271.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Effect of Drain Placed in the Donor Site in the Early Postoperative Period After Arthroscopically Assisted Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With Quadrupled Hamstring Tendons
Karahan et al.
Am J Sports Med 2005;33:900-906.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

All-trans-Retinoic Acid Suppresses Matrix Metalloproteinase Activity and Increases Collagen Synthesis in Diabetic Human Skin in Organ Culture
Lateef et al.
Am. J. Pathol. 2004;165:167-174.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Gene Therapy in the Treatment of Lower Extremity Wounds
Theopold et al.
INT J LOW EXTREM WOUNDS 2004;3:69-79.
ABSTRACT  

Management of Infected Aortic Prosthetic Grafts
Swain et al.
VASC ENDOVASCULAR SURG 2004;38:75-82.
ABSTRACT  

Effect of Drain Use in the Early Postoperative Period after Arthroscopically Assisted Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with Bone-Patellar Tendon-Bone Graft
Dhawan et al.
Am J Sports Med 2003;31:419-424.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

All-trans Retinoic Acid Improves Structure and Function of Diabetic Rat Skin in Organ Culture
Varani et al.
Diabetes 2002;51:3510-3516.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Is Diabetes a Risk Factor for Patients Undergoing Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair?
Rayan et al.
VASC ENDOVASCULAR SURG 2002;36:33-40.
ABSTRACT  

A rational approach to wound difficulties after sternotomy: the problem
Francel and Kouchoukos
Ann. Thorac. Surg. 2001;72:1411-1418.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Improved outcomes following a change in the cephalosporin policy in an acute hospital
McCowan et al.
Journal of Research in Nursing 2000;5:286-290.
ABSTRACT  

ACC/AHA guidelines for coronary artery bypass graft surgery: A report of the American College of Cardiology/ American Heart Association task force on Practice Guidelines (Committee to revise the 1991 Guidelines for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery)
Eagle et al.
J Am Coll Cardiol 1999;34:1262-1347.
FULL TEXT  

Instructional Course Lectures, The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - Evaluation and Treatment of Infection at the Site of a Total Hip or Knee Arthroplasty*{{dagger}}
HANSSEN and RAND
JBJS 1998;80:910-22.
FULL TEXT  

Evaluation and Management of Traumatic Lacerations
Singer et al.
NEJM 1997;337:1142-1148.
FULL TEXT  

Instructional Course Lectures, The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - Common Complications of Total Knee Arthroplasty*{{dagger}}
AYERS et al.
JBJS 1997;79:278-311.
FULL TEXT  

A Cost-effectiveness Evaluation of 3 Antimicrobial Regimens for the Prevention of Infective Complications After Abdominal Surgery
Anderson et al.
Arch Surg 1996;131:744-748.
ABSTRACT  

Instructional Course Lectures, The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons - Prevention of Deep Periprosthetic Joint Infection*{{dagger}}
HANSSEN et al.
JBJS 1996;78:458-71.
FULL TEXT  

A study of nosocomial infection in relation to different host factors in an Indian teaching hospital
Ganguly et al.
The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health 1995;115:244-246.
ABSTRACT  

Effect of Diabetes Mellitus on Hepatic Resection
Yanaga et al.
Arch Surg 1993;128:445-448.
ABSTRACT  

Allograft Bone for Arthrodesis and Repair of Skeletal Hand Problems
ANDERSON
J Hand Surg Eur Vol 1989;14:332-335.
ABSTRACT  

Prophylactic Antibiotherapy in Abdominal Surgery: First- vs Third-Generation Cephalosporins
Rotman et al.
Arch Surg 1989;124:323-327.
ABSTRACT  

Microbiological Monitoring of Aortic Aneurysm Wall and Contents During Aneurysmectomy
Ilgenfritz and Jordan
Arch Surg 1988;123:506-508.
ABSTRACT  

Nutritional Assessment from the Perspective of a Clinician
Bozzetti
JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 1987;11:115S-121S.
ABSTRACT  

Assessing Operative Site Infection in Surgical Patients
Christou et al.
Arch Surg 1987;122:165-169.
ABSTRACT  

Old Problems, New and Persistent Challenges: Presidential Address
Alexander
Arch Surg 1987;122:15-20.
ABSTRACT  

Decreasing the Incidence of Surgical Wound Infections: Validation of a Surveillance-Notification Program
Mead et al.
Arch Surg 1986;121:458-461.
ABSTRACT  

Development of a Safe and Effective One-Minute Preoperative Skin Preparation
Alexander et al.
Arch Surg 1985;120:1357-1361.
ABSTRACT  

"Nutritional" Markers as Prognostic Indicators of Postoperative Sepsis in Cancer Patients
Bozzetti et al.
JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr 1985;9:464-470.
ABSTRACT  

Guidelines for Prevention of Surgical Wound Infection
Polk et al.
Arch Surg 1983;118:1213-1217.
ABSTRACT  

The Influence of Hair-Removal Methods on Wound Infections
Alexander et al.
Arch Surg 1983;118:347-352.
ABSTRACT  

Aseptic Transgressions Among Surgeons and Anesthesiologists: A Quantitative Study
Crow and Greene
Arch Surg 1982;117:1012-1016.
ABSTRACT  

Delayed Wound Infection: An 11-Year Survey
Davis et al.
Arch Surg 1982;117:113-117.
ABSTRACT  

Disinfection of Surgical Wounds Without Inhibition of Normal Wound Healing
Viljanto
Arch Surg 1980;115:253-256.
ABSTRACT  

Antimicrobial vs Placebo Prophylaxis in Noncardiac Thoracic Surgery
Truesdale et al.
JAMA 1979;241:1254-1256.
ABSTRACT  

Severity of Underlying Disease as a Predictor of Nosocomial Infection: Utility in the Control of Nosocomial Infection
Britt et al.
JAMA 1978;239:1047-1051.
ABSTRACT  

Doxycycline in Abdominal Surgery
Klein et al.
JAMA 1977;238:1933-1935.
ABSTRACT  

Influence of Operating Room Surface Contamination on Surgical Wounds: A Prospective Study
Weber et al.
Arch Surg 1976;111:484-488.
ABSTRACT  

Handwashing Practices for the Prevention of Nosocomial Infections
STEERE and MALLISON
ANN INTERN MED 1975;83:683-690.
ABSTRACT