A few days ago there was an article praising the role of preoperative chlorhexidine shower in reducing SSI and advocating preoperative Chlorhexidine shower as an important determinant of reducing SSI. Well, I disagree! I refer to a Cochrane Review which has been periodically updated; titled 'Preoperative bathing or showering with skin antiseptics to prevent surgical site infection' authored by Webster J, Osborne S published on 19 February 2015. Seven trials involving a total of 10,157 participants were included.
Four of the included trials had three comparison groups. The antiseptic used in all trials was 4% chlorhexidine gluconate. Three trials involving 7791 participants compared chlorhexidine with a placebo. Bathing with chlorhexidine compared with placebo did not result in a statistically significant reduction in SSIs; the relative risk of SSI (RR) was 0.91 (95% confidence interval…
