Effect of hair removal on SSI rates

Editor's Note

In this study, surgical site infection (SSI) rates were similar for general surgery patients whether hair was clipped or not.

Of 1,543 patients included in the study, 768 were in the clipped group and 775 were in the not-clipped group.

The overall rate of SSIs was 6.12% in the clipped group and 6.32% in the not-clipped group.

The study was conducted because it has been unclear whether the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation to not clip hair preoperatively actually reduces SSIs, the authors say.

Despite substantial prevention efforts, surgical site infections (SSIs) remain the most common health care-associated infection. It is unclear whether the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation to leave hair intact preoperatively reduces SSIs.