<p>Background and purpose: The relevance of skin preparation</p><p>by abrasion preceded or not by alcohol cleansing for digital</p><p>ECG (dECGs) variables was prospectively evaluated.</p><p>Methods: In 22 healthy male subjects (40.2±9.7 years) dECGs</p><p>were recorded continuously over 5 minute periods at 5 different</p><p>time points at 3 separate 24-hour visits, employing 2 electrode</p><p>types and no skin preparation, abrasion and alcohol cleansing</p><p>before abrasion. Smoothed means dECG data covering 5</p><p>minutes used for statistical analysis on leads V2-3 and V5.</p><p>Results: Significant of skin preparation with reductions for</p><p>skin-impedance and noise (p<0.0001 – p=0.35) for all leads,</p><p>and with no further effect by alcohol cleansing (p>0.46). PRintervals</p><p>were significantly prolonged by skin preparation</p><p>(p=0.0003 – p=0.0165) in leads V2-3 at 120 and 1 440 minutes;</p><p>with additional impact of alcohol at 1 440 minutes (p=0.0005).</p><p>Subject comfort was markedly higher with one of the electrode</p><p>types (p<0.0001).</p><p>Conclusion: Skin preparation by abrasion should be employed</p><p>prior to dECG recordings to improve signal properties.</p><p>Cleansing with alcohol is generally not warranted. Skin</p><p>irritation is dependant on choice of electrode.</p>

Background and purpose: The relevance of skin preparation by abrasion preceded or not by alcohol cleansing for digital ECG (dECGs) variables was prospectively evaluated. Methods: In 22 healthy male subjects (40.2±9.7 years) dECGs were recorded continuously over 5 minute periods at 5 different time points at 3 separate 24-hour visits, employing 2 electrode types and no skin preparation, abrasion and alcohol cleansing before abrasion. Smoothed means dECG data covering 5 minutes used for statistical analysis on leads V2-3 and V5. Results: Significant of skin preparation with reductions for skin-impedance and noise (p<0.0001 – p=0.35) for all leads, and with no further effect by alcohol cleansing (p>0.46). PRintervals were significantly prolonged by skin preparation (p=0.0003 – p=0.0165) in leads V2-3 at 120 and 1 440 minutes; with additional impact of alcohol at 1 440 minutes (p=0.0005). Subject comfort was markedly higher with one of the electrode types (p<0.0001). Conclusion: Skin preparation by abrasion should be employed prior to dECG recordings to improve signal properties. Cleansing with alcohol is generally not warranted. Skin irritation is dependant on choice of electrode.

Postoperative site infections are the second most common health care associated infection in Sweden. Surgical procedures can lead to postoperative site infection causing great suffer for the patient and an extended care time with an increased cost as a result. In preparation for surgery, it is important that the skin is well prepared with antiseptics to decrease the risk of postoperative site infection. The purpose with this study was to shed light upon the skin preparation before surgery and its significance to postoperative site infection. Ten scientific articles have been scrutinized and compiled and two themes have been identified – the preoperative and the intraoperative skin preparation. All in all, difference could be spotted in the number of washes and how these had been preformed before the surgery. Similarities could be spotted in the hair shortening procedure and the alcohol added in selected disinfectant, influences the probability for decrease in postoperative surgical site infection. The result from this study shows that more research is needed regarding how the skin shall be prepared before surgery to reduce the number of postoperative site infections.