Study: OR skullcaps not linked to SSIs

Editor's Note

Strictly enforcing a ban on skullcaps in the OR had no impact on surgical site infection (SSI) rates in this study, presented at the annual Academic Surgical Congress in Jacksonville, Florida.

The analysis included American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) data on 1,901 patients who had clean or clean-contaminated general surgery procedures in 2015, before the ban on skullcaps was implemented, and in 2016 after the ban was implemented (767 in 2015, 1,183 in 2016).

No difference was found in SSI rates before and after policy implementation (5.3% vs 5.5%).

The findings question the validity of new headwear guidelines, the researchers say.

Read More >>