The Journal of hospital infection
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Multicenter Study
Plastic wound retractors as bacteriological barriers in gastrointestinal surgery: a prospective multi-institutional trial.
Surgical site infection remains a significant problem, and peri-operative strategies to reduce wound exposure to bacteria are needed urgently. Plastic ring wound retractors, used to gain access to the abdominal cavity, may shield the incision site from bacteria. ⋯ Plastic wound retractors reduce wound exposure to enteric bacteria in gastrointestinal surgery.