Proposed Recommended Practices for Skin Care Preparation
The Association of Operating Room Nurses (AORN) has developed and published a guideline for achieving skin preparation of the surgical site. The policies and procedures, according to AORN, are intended to be achievable recommendations representing what is believed to be an optimal level of practice. The recommended practices include: assess the patient's surgical site; remove hair according to the physicians' orders or policies and procedures in the practice setting; clean the surgical site and surrounding areas; and when indicated, the surgical site and surrounding area should be prepared with antiseptic cream. For the complete list as well as more detailed information visit www.aorn.org.
Back to Basics: Hospital Restores Catheter-Associated UTI Rates to Prepandemic Baseline
June 16th 2025A 758-bed quaternary medical center slashed catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) by 45% over 2 years, proving that disciplined adherence to fundamental prevention steps, not expensive add-ons, can reverse the pandemic-era spike in device-related harm.
Beyond the Surface: Tackling the Sterilization Challenges of Flexible Endoscopes
May 26th 2025Flexible endoscopes revolutionized modern medicine—but their complex design poses persistent sterilization challenges. With mounting infection risks and emerging innovations, experts are rethinking how to clean and safeguard one of health care’s most indispensable tools.
Silent Saboteurs: Managing Endotoxins for Sepsis-Free Sterilization
Invisible yet deadly, endotoxins evade traditional sterilization methods, posing significant risks during routine surgeries. Understanding and addressing their threat is critical for patient safety.
