Which practice is NOT recommended to prevent infection after CABG?

• A. Apply ointments or lotions to incisions
• B. Remove chest & leg incision dressings on 2nd or 3rd day
• C. May swab incisions w/ betadine
• D. Administer prophylactic antibiotics for first 24-48 hours

Answer: (A)

Postoperative infection prevention for CABG centers on keeping incisions clean, dry, and protected while allowing careful observation for signs of trouble. Applying ointments or lotions directly to the incision disrupts this environment by creating moisture and a sticky, occlusive surface that can trap bacteria, macerate the skin, and hide changes in the wound. That makes it harder to spot early infection or wound problems and can actually raise the risk rather than lower it. The safest approach is to keep the incision clean and dry, follow sterile dressing-change protocols, and monitor for redness, drainage, or separation.

Antiseptic cleansing of the area, such as with a mild antiseptic under surgeon guidance, and giving prophylactic antibiotics for a short period around the time of surgery are standard practices to reduce infection risk. Keeping dressings in place as directed protects the wound from environmental bacteria, and removing them too early can expose the incision to contaminants. Altogether, avoiding ointments on the incision aligns with creating a stable, observable healing environment and minimizing infection risk.