Patient Education Heart Surgery | Page 17

Preparing Your Skin to Help Prevent Infection Use the 2% CHG antiseptic wipes to prepare your skin for surgery. This is important because it reduces the risk of infection. The night before and the morning of surgery, shower and use the cleansing wipes 1 hour later. 1. The night before and the morning of your surgery, shower or bathe. Wash, rinse, and use a clean towel to dry well. • Do not use any makeup, perfume, deodorant, powder, lotion, or cream after you have showered. • Do not shave the hair on your chest or legs. This can increase the risk of infection. • If you have sensitive skin, wait 1 hour before moving on to the next step. 2. Open the package and carefully remove one cloth at a time. One cloth should be used for each surgical area. 3. Gently scrub the area(s) marked on the picture in a back-and-forth motion with the cloth for 3 minutes. • Do not touch your eyes, ears, or mouth while scrubbing. • If your skin becomes red or irritated, stop using the solution right away and contact your doctor for further instructions. 4. Allow prepped skin to air dry for 1 minute. • Do not rinse. • It is normal for the skin to feel “tacky” for a few minutes. 5. Leave any unused cloths in the evening in the package for your morning prep. Place the package in an airtight bag or container to keep it moist. 6. Repeat steps 1 through 5 on the morning of surgery. 16