Open Heart Nurses...I need your help! (we need prep recommendations)

[MereSanity]

OK...here's the deal...I need to know what other organizations are using for Open Heart preps? Betadine? Chloraprep? On chest/legs/and groin. I has been suggested that we use chloraprep for our groin prep...is anyone else doing this? Also, what are you using on the closure site? We use a swipe of betadine paint but feel this is not adequate...what does everyone else use? We need to revamp our process...suggestions??? Thanks!!!

[Argo]

One of our guys likes chloraprep all the way and covers the Franks n beans with a small towel drape, only exposes the graft site.

Another uses betadine then cleans It off with alcohol at the incision sites before draping.

Not sure what your talking about on the closures.

[SandraCVRN]

We use exidine, top to bottom. Alcohol after on the chest, loin cloth as stated above. We were using chloraprep but had a couple sternal infections which happen rarely but it seems like always 2 at a time every couple of years. So or guys don't want any chloraprep used. That all our cath lab uses....

[goats'r'us, ASN, RN]

we use alcoholic iodine all over

[NotReady4PrimeTime, RN]

Our OR uses Soluprep solution (0.5% chlorhexidine gluconate in 75% isopropyl alcohol) for the first scrub from chin to midthigh. Second scrub is with Soluprep sponges (2% chlorhexidine gluconate in 70% isopropyl alcohol). Our rate of mediastinitis is low and more often associated with delayed sternal closure. Chlorhexidine has a very long period of activity against microbes, more than four hours after application so it's a good choice.

[smithd5]

ok...here's the deal...i need to know what other organizations are using for open heart preps? betadine? chloraprep? on chest/legs/and groin. i has been suggested that we use chloraprep for our groin prep...is anyone else doing this? also, what are you using on the closure site? we use a swipe of betadine paint but feel this is not adequate...what does everyone else use? we need to revamp our process...suggestions??? thanks!!!

first we alcohol off the entire area to be prepped (chest/legs/groin). then, using sterile gloves, we apply duraprep (iodine povacrylex [0.7% available iodine] and isopropyl alcohol, 74% w/w) to the chest/legs/groin. one surgeon applies chloraprep to the sternum after closure.

[Mr. & Mrs. RN]

I am not in CVOR, but from what little I have seen, I believe they use Duraprep all over with the loin cloth

[suz1320]

We use Actiprep, which is Ethyl Alcohol 73% w/w and we use for all areas.We have great zero infection rate for sternal wounds.