During preoperative skin prep, what should be done with jewelry?

• A. Remove all jewelry or ensure it is covered to prevent harboring bacteria and contamination
• B. Leave jewelry on and uncontested
• C. Clean and reapply lotion over jewelry
• D. Sterilize jewelry before use

Answer: (A)

Jewelry must be removed or completely covered during preoperative skin prep to prevent harboring bacteria and contamination. Rings, bracelets, watches, and similar items create tiny crevices where skin oils, dirt, and microbes can accumulate and escape thorough cleansing. Even if the surrounding skin is prepped, the area under or around jewelry may not be adequately decontaminated, increasing the risk of a surgical-site infection. The safest approach is to remove all jewelry; if removal isn’t feasible, use an impermeable cover to seal the area from the prep solution, but the goal is to eliminate exposure of jewelry to the prep process. Do not clean and reapply lotion over jewelry, and jewelry should not be sterilized for use in the sterile field.