Rodent Surgery and Aseptic Technique - Rodent Aseptic Surgery

Successful surgeries and animal welfare depend on informed decisions regarding aseptic technique.

The use of aseptic technique in rodent surgery is particularly challenging. Rodent surgeries are often performed in batches (several sequential operations within one day) and the expense of surgical instruments make it challenging to provide an individual surgical pack for each rodent surgery. Limitations in rodent body size and the relatively limited size of the surgical field are impediments to the application of aseptic technique. Personnel performing rodent surgeries often lack adequate surgical training and experience, and frequently do not have access to a trained surgeon.¹ Additionally, mouse and rat aseptic technique is not well defined by the laws and regulations within the laboratory animal science field, and therefore leaves room for interpretation. A misconception that needs to be addressed assumes that mice and rats are not susceptible or are less susceptible to infections than other mammalian species.^2,3