Final answer:
To minimize post-operative infection risk, proper wound care, hand hygiene, and strict adherence to aseptic techniques are necessary, while avoiding expired medications. These practices help prevent sepsis and HAIs, emphasizing the importance of meticulous cleanliness established by Joseph Lister. The correct answer is D) Proper wound care.
Step-by-step explanation:
To minimize the risk of infection post-operation (post-op), it is vital to follow several important practices. These include proper wound care, meticulous hand hygiene, adherence to aseptic techniques, and avoiding the use of expired medications.
British surgeon Joseph Lister, inspired by the work of Semmelweis and Pasteur, significantly reduced postsurgical infections in the 19th century by insisting on handwashing and the use of antiseptics during surgery.
Today, maintaining strict protocols of cleanliness and asepsis is recognized as essential to prevent sepsis and other hospital-acquired infections (HAIs).
Aseptic technique includes the use of sterilized equipment and materials, as well as rigorous procedures for handwashing and disinfection. In contrast, neglecting these practices can lead to serious complications, including iatrogenic diseases, which are the result of microbial contamination during medical procedures.