What should a patient be required to do prior to surgery to minimize the risk of surgical site infections?

Requiring a patient to bathe or shower the night before surgery helps minimize the risk of surgical site infections for several reasons. First, bathing removes dirt, oils, and bacteria from the skin, which can significantly reduce the microbial load on the skin surface. This is crucial because the surgical area must be as clean as possible to decrease the chance of infection during or after the procedure.

Additionally, many surgical protocols advocate for specific preoperative skin hygiene measures, including the use of antiseptic solutions, to further decrease the risk of pathogens causing infections. This practice is part of a broader approach to infection control that begins prior to the surgical procedure. Maintaining sterilized conditions is key in surgery, and patient preparation plays a vital role in achieving that, making the timing and method of pre-surgery hygiene important elements in preventing surgical site infections.

While the other options present various practices, they do not address the direct impact on reducing the risk of infections like proper bathing does.