Standards and controls for skin disinfection

The correct application of a suitable antiseptic is necessary to minimize the risk of surgical site infection. This class of infection accounts for about 15% of all health-care-associated infections in total and about 37% of the hospital-acquired infections of surgical patients.

The ideal antiseptic agent should be effective against a wide range of microorganisms; work within a fast onset of action; exert a long-term effect; and not be readily inactivated by organic material (e.g. blood). Moreover, it should have minimal toxic effects on the skin. Antiseptics can be classified as bactericidal (capable of killing most members of a population of microorganisms) or bacteriostatic (capable to inhibiting the growth of members of a population of microorganisms). In general, bactericidal products are preferred.

In relation to this, Tim Sandle has written a review article for The Clinical Services Journal. The reference is:

Sandle, T. (2016) Standards and controls for skin disinfection, The Clinical Services Journal, 15 (2): 25-28

For a copy, please contact Tim Sandle



 Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle