Comparison of two techniques for intravenous catheter site preparation in dogs

Fighting surgical site infections in small animals: are we getting anywhere?

A diverse array of pathogen-related, patient-related, and caretaker-related issues influence risk and prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs). The entire surgical team involved in health care settings in which surgical procedures are performed play a pivotal role in the prevention of SSIs. In this article, current knowledge of SSI risk factors and prevention methods is reviewed. Although new avenues that can be explored in the prevention of SSIs in veterinary medicine are described, the main conclusion drawn is that the best method for prevention of SSI is to adhere to what we already know.

Presurgical Antiseptic Efficacy of Chlorhexidine Diacetate and Providone-Iodine in the Canine Preputial Cavity

Antiseptic flushing of the canine prepuce and its exclusion from the surgical field are recommended before abdominal surgery to reduce the risk of bacterial contamination. The authors cultured the preputial cavity of 60 dogs prior to and following flushing with 0.05% chlorhexidine diacetate, 1% povidone-iodine, or 0.9% saline control. Bacterial growth was evaluated using a semiquantitative method, and bacterial organisms were subsequently identified. There were no significant differences between povidone-iodine and the saline control in any of the variables assessed. Chlorhexidine resulted in a significant decrease in the proportion of positive postflush cultures compared with povidone-iodine. Although not significant, the difference in adverse reactions between povidone-iodine (25%) and chlorhexidine diacetate (5%) suggests clinical relevance. Based on the results of this study, a 2 min flush with 0.05% chlorhexidine diacetate is recommended for presurgical preparation of the preputial cavity.

Assessing techniques for disinfecting sites for inserting intravenous catheters into the jugular veins of horses

The sites of insertion of catheters into the jugular veins of six horses were investigated to determine common isolates and to assess the effectiveness of two disinfection protocols with the hair coat left long, clipped or shaved. Skin commensals (Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Micrococcus species) and environmental contaminants (Bacillus, Enterobacteriaceae, Aspergillus and Mucor species) were the microorganisms most frequently isolated. Chlorhexidine gluconate and povidone-iodine-based skin disinfection protocols resulted in significant reductions in the number of bacterial isolates from clipped sites. With chlorhexidine, there were no significant differences between the reductions observed at sites with the hair coat left long, clipped or shaved.