How Do Infection Control Practices in Mohs Surgery Affect the Infection Rate?

Rates of infection after Mohs surgery and the associated reconstruction range from 0.72% to 4.25%. In two recent trials, researchers evaluated the effectiveness of infection-control practices and clean surgical techniques for preventing infection.

In a retrospective study, Martin and colleagues compared infection rates before and after a change in infection prevention and control practices at a single-surgeon academic Mohs practice. Before the change, staff washed hands between stages; wore scrubs, masks, and nonsterile gloves for the Mohs surgery; and wore sterile gloves and drapes for the reconstruction. They used sterile instruments, nonsterile dressings, and chloroxylenol 3% skin prep. The prechange protocol was associated with a 2.5% in…