Antisepsis

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The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Antisepsis

a procedure for the chemical and biological disinfection of wounds, objects touching them, the operative field, and the surgeon’s hands and for the counteraction of infection in the patient’s organism. In surgery, antisepsis is used only in combination with asepsis. Antisepsis as a method of preventing microbes from penetrating a wound was first proposed in 1867 by the English surgeon J. Lister. The method consisted of applying to the wound a multi-layered hermetic dressing saturated with carbolic acid, spraying carbolic acid into the air of the operating room, smearing the operative field with it, and treating the surgeon’s hands, instruments, sutures, and gauze with it. The acute toxic effect of carbolic acid on the wound, on the patient’s organism, and on those nearby very quickly forced them to give up this method. The science of antisepsis continued to develop as more effective but less toxic antiseptic agents (antiseptics) appeared possessing bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties that activate the organism’s defense forces, increase phagocytosis, have no harmful effects on the organism, and do not lose their effectiveness upon contact with pus. Antibiotics most fully meet these requirements. Preparations derived from sulfanilamides—Prontalbin, “sulfazol,” “sulfodimezin,” “aethazol,” and others—which are used predominantly in streptococcus, pneumococcus, and meningococcus infections, also possess antiseptic properties. The phytoncids contained in a number of plants—garlic, onion, European bird cherry, black currant, citrus and coniferous trees, and others—possess good antibacterial properties.

REFERENCE

Mnogotomnoe rukovodstvo po khirurgii, vol. 1. Moscow, 1962.

A. B. GALITSKII

References in periodicals archive ?

Therefore, given that bacteria present in and on the skin at the time of venipuncture represent the greatest source of contamination of stored blood, the identification of effective antisepsis protocols is necessary.

Skin antisepsis protocols for the collection of blood from donor dogs/ Protocolos de antissepsia de pele para colheita de sangue de caes doadores

The practise of hand hygiene is a fundamental element of medical practice, and general hand hygiene practice is to perform hand antisepsis regardless of the intention to use gloves.

Current Evidence for the Prevention of Endophthalmitis in Anti-VEGF Intravitreal Injections

Another aspect of our protocol involved with pre-operative antisepsis includes the best practice of hair removal from the operative extremity.

Decreasing orthopaedic surgical site infections: a new perioperative protocol

In an effort to determine whether the choice of preoperative topical antisepsis independently affects SSIs, Mr.

Chlorhexidine-alcohol reduced SSIs after hysterectomy

32 videos were analyzed, none was in accordance with the standards established in the literature; among the main errors found, it highlights the absence of hand washing, the absence of registration in the medical record, the absence of cleaning and drying the patient at the end of the procedure, incorrect technique during antisepsis and the absence of gloves changes.

Analysis of YouTube videos about urinary catheterization technique of male delay/Analisis de los videos en YouTube sobre la tecnica de cateterismo vesical por retencion de orina en el hombre/Analise de videos do YouTube sobre a tecnica de cateterismo urinario de demora masculino

(3) Lotions are often recommended to ease the dryness resulting from frequent hand washing or hand antisepsis. When selecting hand lotions or barrier cream, be sure to choose a medical grade product.

Healthy hands for dental professionals: preventing infection while protecting your skin

Compliance with standards relating to obtaining informed consent, skin and bottle-top antisepsis and BC collection technique was variable (Fig.

Time for a culture change? Suboptimal compliance with blood culture standards at a district hospital in Cape Town

100% of primary hip and knee replacements having appropriate skin antisepsis in surgery using alcohol/chlorhexidine or alcohol/providone iodine.

Surgical site infection improvement (SSII) steering group

Nice-Pak has products for surface disinfection, surface cleaning, skin antisepsis, hand hygiene and personal care.

Nice-Pak teams up with 'store brand drivers'

The role of iodine in antisepsis and wound management: a reappraisal.

EFFECT OF POVIDONE-IODINE IRRIGATION ON POST APPENDECTOMY WOUND INFECTION: RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL

The ceremonial cloaking of future doctors in white coats, as opposed to the original black garb worn by physicians, also symbolizes cleanliness and purity associated with the era of antisepsis ushered in by Joseph Lister in the late 19th century.

You can leave your hat on

It was found that most of the doctors still believe that soap and water is the best way of ensuring hygiene of the hand even though the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) for hand antisepsis as it is acts fast and has broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity.