A prospective controlled trial of the efficacy of isopropyl alcohol wipes before venesection in surgical patients

It has previously been suggested that skin preparation before venesection w ith antiseptic agents is unnecessary. However thousands of doctors and medi cal students continue to use isopropyl alcohol (IPA) swabs for venesection, at an estimated cost of pound 10,000 per annum in a 500 bed hospital. An a udit of IPA swab use among junior doctors and medical students at our insti tution was undertaken; 76% of doctors and 100% of medical students routinel y prepared the skin with alcohol before venesection and only one used the s wabs correctly. A randomised single-blind controlled trial was conducted of IPA versus no IPA skin preparation before venesection. There were 194 pati ents in the study, 93 in the IPA group and 101 controls. There was no stati stical difference with respect to complications at the venepuncture site be tween the two groups.