Guidance
Recommendations for research
Recommendations for research
The 2008 guideline committee made the following recommendations for research marked [2008]. The guideline committee's full set of recommendations for research are detailed in the 2008 full guideline.
As part of the 2019 update, the guideline committee updated recommendations for research on nasal decolonisation and wound closure methods, and made new recommendations for research on antiseptic skin preparation and antiseptics and antibiotics before wound closure. These are marked [2019].
Key recommendations for research
1 Nasal decolonisation: effectiveness
What is the clinical effectiveness of preoperative nasal decolonisation using mupirocin in combination with a chlorhexidine body wash in the whole population? [2019]
For a short explanation of why the committee made the recommendation for research, see the rationale section on nasal decolonisation.
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review A: nasal decontamination in the prevention of surgical site infection.
2 Nasal decolonisation: antimicrobial resistance
Is the use of chlorhexidine body wash associated with increased antimicrobial resistance? [2019]
For a short explanation of why the committee made the recommendation for research, see the rationale section on nasal decolonisation.
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review A: nasal decontamination in the prevention of surgical site infection.
3 Antiseptic skin preparation
What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of chlorhexidine in alcohol at different concentrations in the prevention of surgical site infection when applied to the skin before incision? [2019]
For a short explanation of why the committee made the recommendation for research, see the rationale section on antiseptic skin preparation.
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review B: skin antiseptics in the prevention of surgical site infection.
4 Antiseptics and antibiotics before wound closure
Is the application of antiseptics and antibiotics in the operative field before wound closure, clinically and cost effective in reducing surgical site infection rates? [2019]
For a short explanation of why the committee made the recommendation for research, see the rationale section on antiseptics and antibiotics before wound closure.
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review C: intraoperative antiseptics and antibiotics before wound closure.
5 Closure methods
Which patient groups, contamination groups and which layers gain the most benefit from the use of triclosan-coated or triclosan-impregnated sutures? [2019]
For a short explanation of why the committee made the recommendation for research, see the rationale section on closure methods.
Full details of the evidence and the committee's discussion are in evidence review D: closure materials and techniques in the prevention of surgical site infection.
Other recommendations for research
6 Nasal decolonisation: effectiveness
What is the contribution to clinical effectiveness of the timing of nasal decolonisation and body wash for the prevention of surgical site infection? [2019]
What is the effectiveness of decolonisation using alternative interventions in combination with nasal decolonisation in the prevention of surgical site infections when chlorhexidine is contraindicated? [2019]
7 Antiseptic skin preparation
What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of a double application of antiseptic to the skin at the surgical site compared with a single application? [2019]
What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of different modes of applying skin antiseptic before incision in the prevention of surgical site infection? [2019]
8 Closure methods
Does the use of barbed sutures for wound closure reduce the incidence of surgical site infection? [2019]
Which closure method or technique is the most effective for reducing surgical site infections in patients undergoing emergency surgery? [2019]