Comparison of Postoperative Infection Rates After Office-based Oculoplastic Procedures Using Sterile and Clean Gloves. Issue 2 (9th September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wang, Diane; Shinder, Roman
• Is Part Of: Ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery. Volume 39:Issue 2(2023)
• Page Start: 146
• Page End: 149
• Publication Date: 2022-09-09
• Subjects: Eye -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Ophthalmic plastic surgery -- Periodicals; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures -- Periodicals; Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures -- Periodicals; Ophthalmology -- Periodicals; Surgery -- Periodicals; 617.70592
• DOI: 10.1097/IOP.0000000000002266
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0740-9303

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: To compare postoperative infection (PI) rates using sterile and clean-boxed gloves in office-based oculoplastic procedures. Methods: Prospective, comparative study of patients undergoing oculoplastic procedures by a single surgeon (RS) in an office-based procedure room between October 2018 and September 2020. Participants included were 18 years or older. Excluded were patients on oral antibiotics within 2 weeks before the procedure, had a follow-up period of less than 1 week, had a contaminated wound, had complex reconstructions, or had multiple simultaneous procedures performed. Oculoplastic procedures were performed using either sterile or clean-boxed gloves. The main outcome measure was the frequency of postoperative infection. Results: Three thousand one hundred twenty-nine patients, 1, 815 (58%) of whom were women, with a mean age of 60 (18–102) years were included. One thousand five hundred seventy procedures were performed with sterile gloves, while 1, 559 were performed with clean-boxed gloves. The patients in the 2 groups were similar in age, gender, and number of high-risk individuals. One patient in the sterile glove group who underwent upper blepharoplasty (0.064%) and one patient (0.064%) in the clean-boxed glove group who had an external levator advancement blepharoptosis repair developed PI. Neither patient had risk factors for infection, and both infections resolved after 1 week of oral amoxicillin-clavulanate 875/125 mg twice daily. Conclusions: In minimally complex in-office oculoplastic procedures, using sterile versus clean-boxed gloves resulted in similar low infection rates in this large cohort. The healthcare benefits may not outweigh the costs of using sterile gloves universally for office-based oculoplastic procedures. Abstract : This study of 3, 129 patients who underwent office-based oculoplastic procedures performed with sterile or clean-boxed gloves showed similar low postoperative infection rates when comparing procedures done with either glove type.