What should a nurse do to prevent incisional infections post-surgery?

Performing hand hygiene prior to dressing changes is crucial in preventing incisional infections post-surgery. Hand hygiene reduces the risk of introducing pathogens into a surgical site, which can lead to infection. This practice is foundational in infection control protocols and is supported by numerous studies and guidelines in healthcare settings. By ensuring that hands are clean, nurses significantly minimize the chances of transferring bacteria from their hands to the wound site, which is especially important when caring for surgical incisions.

While other methods like changing dressings frequently, applying antibiotic ointments, and using sterile gloves are important in their own right, they do not replace the necessity of proper hand hygiene. Frequent dressing changes may not be needed unless there's a reason to do so, while antibiotic ointments might not be recommended for all types of surgical wounds. Additionally, sterile gloves are important during certain procedures, but the effectiveness of hand hygiene before dressing changes remains a primary focus in preventing infections.