Journal of Pediatrics & Child Care
Research Article
The Impact of Preoperative Chlorhexidine Baths on Outcomes in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Adnexal Surgery
Motta M1*, Avila A1, Valdes J2,Samuels S3 and Levene T4
1Department of Surgery, Memorial Healthcare System, FL, USA
2Florida International University, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, USA
3Office of Human Research, Memorial Healthcare System, USA
4Pediatric Surgery, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Hollywood, FL, USA
2Florida International University, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, USA
3Office of Human Research, Memorial Healthcare System, USA
4Pediatric Surgery, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Hollywood, FL, USA
*Address for Correspondence:Monique Motta, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, Hollywood, FL E-mail Id: mmotta@mhs.net
Submission:17 May, 2024
Accepted:13 September, 2024
Published:16 September, 2024
Copyright: ©2024 Motta M, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attr-ibution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract
Objective:Surgical site infections (SSIs) increase the risk of
morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. Pre-operative bathing
protocols with agents such as chlorhexidine 4% (CHG) have been
implemented however the efficacy of this practice in adnexal surgery
among pediatric patients is unknown.
Methods:We conducted a retrospective chart review of 115 nonneonatal, pediatric patients who underwent adnexal surgery from November 2017 to November 2022. Rates of SSIs, returns to emergency room (ER) and readmissions were compared for patients who did or did not receive a pre-operative antiseptic bath using CHG. Statistical analysis was conducted with statistical significance at p<0.05.
Results:The mean age at time of surgery was 13.3 years (range 0.75-20 years) with patients undergoing detorsion of adnexal structures and/or resection of adnexal masses or cysts. Over one quarter of our study population (26.1%) received a pre-operative bath with CHG. All patients underwent preparation of skin in the operating room just prior to incision with CHG and isopropyl alcohol skin preparation solution. Overall, the rate of SSIs was 1.8% (n=2) and there were no ER visits or readmissions due to SSIs. There was no significant difference in outcomes between pediatric patients undergoing pre-operative CHG bath with those not undergoing CHG bath prior to adnexal surgery.
Conclusion:Our data suggest that pre-operative bathing with CHG does not alter the rates of SSIs, ER visits or readmission rates for pediatric patients undergoing adnexal surgery. A larger multicenter prospective study would be required to determine a study sufficiently powered to make clinical recommendations.
Methods:We conducted a retrospective chart review of 115 nonneonatal, pediatric patients who underwent adnexal surgery from November 2017 to November 2022. Rates of SSIs, returns to emergency room (ER) and readmissions were compared for patients who did or did not receive a pre-operative antiseptic bath using CHG. Statistical analysis was conducted with statistical significance at p<0.05.
Results:The mean age at time of surgery was 13.3 years (range 0.75-20 years) with patients undergoing detorsion of adnexal structures and/or resection of adnexal masses or cysts. Over one quarter of our study population (26.1%) received a pre-operative bath with CHG. All patients underwent preparation of skin in the operating room just prior to incision with CHG and isopropyl alcohol skin preparation solution. Overall, the rate of SSIs was 1.8% (n=2) and there were no ER visits or readmissions due to SSIs. There was no significant difference in outcomes between pediatric patients undergoing pre-operative CHG bath with those not undergoing CHG bath prior to adnexal surgery.
Conclusion:Our data suggest that pre-operative bathing with CHG does not alter the rates of SSIs, ER visits or readmission rates for pediatric patients undergoing adnexal surgery. A larger multicenter prospective study would be required to determine a study sufficiently powered to make clinical recommendations.