Certified Surgical Technologist (CST) Practice Exam

Chlorhexidine is widely recommended for preparing the donor site for a split-thickness skin graft due to its broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties and residual effects. It effectively reduces the number of bacteria on the skin, thus minimizing the risk of postoperative infections. This quality is especially important in surgical settings where the integrity of the graft and healing process is critical.

While iodophors are antiseptics that can also be used for skin preparation, they may not provide the same level of durability or effectiveness as chlorhexidine, particularly in high-risk environments. Avagard, on the other hand, is mainly used for hand antisepsis rather than for preoperative skin preparation of donor sites. Merthiolate, while effective as an antiseptic in some applications, is not commonly utilized for surgical skin prep due to potential allergic reactions and concerns regarding toxicity.