Showering after surgery has been debated since it has been associated with increased infection rates, higher pain scores and less patient and physician satisfaction with wound care. To find the real implications, researchers studied more than 400 patients to find if these argued complications occurred.
They concluded: “Clean and clean-contaminated wounds can be safely showered 48 hours after surgery. Postoperative showering does not increase the risk of surgical site complications. It may increase patients’ satisfaction and lower the cost of wound care.”