Table 5.

Comparison of recommendations for preoperative preparation from three major small animal surgery textbooks

Recommendation	Slatter 2002[10]	Fossum 2007[9]	Tobias & Johnston 2012[11]
Clip hair right before surgery	√	√	(√)d
Patient prep with CH or PI	√	(√)c	√
Patient prep with any other agent	(√)a	X	X
Contact time for patient prep (depending on agent)	>2 min	2-3 min	0.5-2 min e
Apply antiseptic in a center-to-periphery circular pattern	√	√	-
Surgeon prep with CH or PI scrub	√	√	(√)f
Surgeon prep with ASHR	(√)b	√	√
Surgeon prep with any other agent	-	-	-
Contact time for surgeon prep (soap & water, first scrub of day)	5 min	5-7 min	-
Contact time for surgeon prep (soap & water, any scrub)	2-5 min	2-3 min	-
Contact time for surgeon prep (ASHR)	-	1.5-2 min	-e
Surgeon prep technique described	√	√	-e
Wear mask during surgery	√	√	(√)g
Wear headcover during surgery	√	√	(√)h
Wear gown during surgery	√	√	√
Gowning technique described	√	√	-
Gloving technique(s) described	√	√	-
Notes	Formerly required ACVS reading	Current required ACVS reading	Current required ACVS reading, not available at time of study

√ = recommended, (√) = recommended with caveats, X = not recommended, - = no specific recommendation/not described, prep = preparation, CH = chlorhexidine, PI = povidone iodine, ASHR = alcohol-based surgical hand rub, ACVS = American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

^ause of chloroxylenol described, but not recommended for use in cats.

^bASHR reportedly superior to CH or PI but not as commonly used.

^cCH or PI in alcohol preferred.

^devidence is inconsistent.

^efollow manufacturer’s recommendation for specific product.

^fboth agents significantly decrease bacterial load on hands, but ASHR is preferred.

^gmask use helps prevent direct contamination during talking, no effect on environmental bacterial load.

^huse of headcovers controversial, but hair carries higher bacterial load so makes sense to cover.