Considerations For Preventing Surgical Wound Breakdowns
Below we have compiled a list of considerations and easy-to-implement actions for preventing surgical wound breakdown
Clippers
Clipper blades can harbour bacteria very quickly, so these must be changed/disinfected appropriately/ after each patient and at the end of the day. In addition, to removing hair, spraying them with a broad spectrum disinfectant spray in-between patients is recommended. Clinell Spray has a quick activation time and is handy for everyday use. Clipper blades can also be soaked in disinfectant solution at the end of each day – on their own, not in with your instruments, and then dried, oiled and lubricated, ready for the next day.
We have a handy clipper cleaning guide to assist practices in carrying out the correct regime available for free in your resources section of your myPlus account. Reminder: there should be a separate pair of clippers for each area of the building and a separate pair for clipping wounds.
Theatre Hoover
The filter needs to be changed or disinfected daily – filters should be changed regularly as, again they can harbour and redistribute bacteria quickly.
Skin Scrub (correct dilution rates for Chlorhexidine 4%)
It is recommended a 50:50 rate is used for surgical wound preparation with a fresh bowl of solution with warm water being prepared for each patient.
Environmental Cleaning – Appropriate Disinfectants
Is everyone in practice using the recommended dilution rates for cleaning surfaces and floors? Surfaces should be cleaned regularly between patients and the area left to dry so the correct contact times are effective. View our disinfectant contact times handy guide in our resource area.
Closure of a Wound and Suture Material Used
As a rule, surgical wounds are considered clean, however, in the instance of contamination or evidence of devitalised tissue, the wound should be left open for approximately 3 to 4 days. This delayed primary closure allows time to determine if there is infection present or if the tissues continue to devitalise.
Post-operative Dressings
All surgical wounds need to be covered for at least 48hrs. It is considered best practice to cover all surgical incisions post-procedure - when practical, this should involve low adherence, and transparent polyurethane dressings. These protect the wound and allow you to check the surgical incision site for any signs of wound infection without disturbing the dressing or healing the surgical site itself. These dressings can be left in place for between 3 and 5 days, during which the epithelialisation process may be completed in a wound healing by primary intention. We recommend that a protocol be put into place in this area, and the price factored into your procedure to clients. A post-op dressing sheet should reflect this information to help clients understand the importance of this area.
Suitable Protocols for Cleaning in the Kennel/Cattery
Effective environmental decontamination is paramount in reducing the chances of any bacteria in the area reaching the patient's wounds.
Swabbing
Staff and surfaces should be swabbed ideally every 6 months. Particularly for MRSA, especially if you are covering high amounts of procedures such as orthopaedics. If swabbing surfaces, as well as swabbing "Touch Points", it is beneficial also to be swabbing places such as under tables or whiteboard markers, areas where people often forget to clean. This is then a good indication of how well your practice decontaminates. The Clinell Evaluclean UV Torch Kit can assist with auditing your cleaning protocols.