For routine surgical hand preparation alcohol-based handrubs are superior to scrubs because they are equally effective but cause less skin irritation, are cheaper, and use less water.

Disadvantages of chlorhexidine-containing disinfectants for surgical hand disinfection: they can provoke allergic reactions, foster antimicrobial resistance, and increase water consumption.

Teaser description: Surgical site infections (SSI) are most frequently caused by pathogenic bacteria. Especially implantation of foreign materials increases the risk for infection with pathogens like S. aureus.