Preoperative preparation of the surgical infant and child includes disinfection of intact skin, which should be performed immediately before surgery within the operating room. Skin disinfection and preparation play an important role in the prevention of surgical site infections (SSIs), as the first source of infection is microorganisms on the patient’s skin. The commensal skin flora includes many microorganisms with low pathogenicity, such as coagulase-negative Staphylococci and Corinebacteria, but also potentially pathogenic strains such as Staphylococcus aureus. The purpose of skin disinfection is to minimize the microbial load on the patient’s skin before incising the skin barrier to help limit the risk of SSIs. Evidence shows that to reduce SSIs, the use of alcohol-based antiseptic solutions for surgical site skin preparation is more effective than aqueous solutions. There is no evidence to perform intraoperative skin disinfection before suturing.

Download