[Survey the effect of alcohol on surgical scrub]

Surgical site infection [SSI] is one of the common complications in postoperative period. SSI is induced with microorganisms that spread by surgeon, assistant and etc. Surgical scrub could reduce colony count of hands. This reduction can reduce the potential of SSI. Disinfection solutions are one of most important in scrub efficacy. These solutions have specific advantage and disadvantage. It seems that compound solutions have more efficacy in compared with each of these solutions alone. This study was designed to survey the effect of betaine and alcohol compound in surgical scrub. With approval of the ethics committee of the medical university, 40 volunteers including surgeons, operating room technicians, nurses, resident and operating room students were selected. Scrub with each of these solution was performed in one, three and five minutes. Each volunteers scrubbed with povidone iodine 7.5% alone or a compound solution of povidone iodine and alcohol in a duration of 1, 3 and 5 minutes. They selected one of the 6 methods randomly. In first day, scrub sampling were taken on blood agar nutrient plates using the finger impression [dominant hand] technique before, immediately after and 30 minutes after scrub. The plates were then labeled and transported to a separate laboratory. The sample plates were incubated for 24-48 hours at 37Oc temperature. Colony forming units and the type of bacteria on sample plates were then recorded. Results showed that most of bacteria were Staph. Saprophyticus, Staph. Epidermis, Micrococcus spp., Bacilus spp. Scrub with betadine or betadine and alcohol compound in each of 1, 3 and 5 minute duration, could reduce hand colony counts effectively. This reduction was continued until 30 minutes after scrub. Both applied methods in this study, betadine alone and betadine and alcohol compound, had equal effects on scrub. Given the drying and irritation effecst of alcohols on skin, we recommend to use of betadin alone for scrub

Effect of postoperative oxygen therapy on nausea and vomiting following cesarean section

One of the prophylactic methods in avoiding postoperative nausea and vomiting [PONV] is the application of intraoperative supplemental oxygen which was shown to have a protective effect in some studies yet a matter of controversy among different researchers. To study the effect of postoperative oxygen therapy on PONV. This quasi-experimental study was performed on 106 eligible patients subjected to elective cesarean section in 2003. The patients were randomly assigned into two groups. Anesthesia and drugs in intraoperative and postoperative periods were the same in two groups. In intraoperative period all patients inhaled 50% oxygen balanced with N [2]O. One group received 60% oxygen in postoperative period [study group], and a second group received routine care of 30-40 percent oxygen in recovery room and no oxygen on surgical ward [control group]. SPO [2] and PONV were recorded in recovery and surgical ward. PONV was 28.3% and 24.5% in study and control groups, respectively. There was no significant difference between two groups. Our study suggests that postoperative application of 60% oxygen was of no value to produce preventive effect on PONV in patients undergoing cesarean section