To prevent SSIs, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers:

• Clean their hands and arms up to their elbows with an antiseptic agent just before the surgery.
• Clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub before and after caring for each patient.
• May remove some of your hair immediately before your surgery using electric clippers if the hair is in the same area where the procedure will occur. They should not shave you with a razor.
• Wear special hair covers, masks, gowns, and gloves during surgery to keep the surgery area clean.
• Give you antibiotics before your surgery starts. In most cases, you should get antibiotics within 60 minutes before the surgery starts and the antibiotics should be stopped within24 hours after surgery.
• Clean the skin at the site of your surgery with a special soap that kills germs.