What does your facility use for the preoperative preparation of the eyelids and lashes when the patient is allergic to povodine iodine?
Our first ASORN Quick Question returned 177 responses from 39 different states. The choices with the number of responses in parentheses were baby shampoo (12), commercially prepared green soap (4), chlorhexadine /Hibiclens (28), Phisohex (60), nothing (6), and other (63). Included in the write-in responses were alcohol in some form or in combination with a soap (14), Technicare (13), lid wipes (5), Shurclens (3), benzalkonium chloride sterile buffered solution 1:750 or Zephirin solution (3), PVP-dilute with copious irrigation (3), Septisol (1), Phisoderm (1), Triseptin (1), Bactistat (1), castile soap (1), Bactoshield (1). Five skipped this question and seven commented they did not work in a surgery setting.
The practice settings were predominantly non-hospital based surgery centers (47%) and hospital-based ambulatory surgery centers (26.1%), with clinic or office procedure area (14.4%).
Some of the products listed as choices and selected most frequently have the potential for corneal damage as documented in the literature. Some products suggested as alternatives may lack good disinfection of viral contamination and/or may require copious rinsing if in contact with the eye. A more thorough discussion of the alternatives is planned for a future issue of Insight.