Presurgical Hand Antisepsis: Concepts and Current Habits of Veterinary Surgeons

OBJECTIVE: To assess current habits for surgical hand preparation among veterinary surgical specialists and to compare data with current guidelines for hand asepsis techniques. STUDY DESIGN: Survey of veterinary surgical specialists. SAMPLE POPULATION: Diplomates of the American (ACVS) and European Colleges of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS). METHODS: An internet-based survey of hand preparation methods before surgical procedures was conducted of 1300 listed ACVS and ECVS Diplomates. RESULTS: A 42.6% response rate was obtained. Approximately, 80% of respondents use disinfecting soaps as a primary method for hand antisepsis. Of those, 81% use chlorhexidine-based scrubs and 7% use a neutral soap followed by a hydroalcoholic solution. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to current recommendations of the World Health Organization and scientific evidence supporting use of hydro-alcoholic rubs for presurgical hand preparation, veterinary surgical specialists still use surgical scrub solutions containing disinfecting soaps.