Wound infections after preoperative depilatory versus razor preparation

Abstract

The influence of the method of hair removal, razor versus depilatory, on the risk of postoperative wound infection was studied in 406 cases. The infection rate was 5.6 per cent after razor preparation, 0.6 per cent after depilatory, and 0.6 per cent after no preparation. After razor preparation, the infection rate was 3.1 per cent when done just prior to surgery, 7.1 per cent when done up to twenty-four hours prior to surgery, and 20 per cent when done over twenty-four hours before surgery. The infection rate after razor preparation was not influenced by the presence or absence of visible injury. These findings suggest that although the depilatory preparation does not contribute to the risk of wound infection, the razor preparation has a definite adverse effect. Support is provided for the concept that bacterial liberation and growth after razor preparation injury is responsible for this adverse effect. Further, the microscopic injury that regularly accompanies the razor preparation is sufficient explanation without the necessity to implicate visible injury