Alert
This site has not been optimised for Internet Explorer due to Microsoft no longer providing support for the browser. Please view this site using another browser such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
Te Pū rauemi KOWHEORI-19 COVID-19 resource hub

Support for people working in health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Find information about how you can support yourselves and others, including consumers, teams and colleagues which complements and aligns with Ministry of Health resources.

Kia āta kōwhiri Choosing Wisely

The Choosing Wisely campaign seeks to reduce harm from unnecessary and low-value tests and treatment.

Back to previous page

SSIIP skin antisepsis guide

22nd May, 2023

This document has been produced to encourage health care professionals to use skin antisepsis preparation more effectively to improve the safety and quality of care that patients receive. 

Preoperative skin antisepsis is a simple and effective measure to reduce the risk of surgical site infections (Maiwald, 2012). The primary source of organisms contributing to infection following surgery is the bacteria on a patient’s skin. The aim of skin antisepsis is to eliminate and rapidly kill skin flora at the site of a planned surgical incision (Safer Healthcare Now, 2011).