WHAT ARE HOSPITALS DOING TO PREVENT SSIs?

To Prevent SSIs, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers:

Clean hands and arms up to their elbows with an antiseptic agent just prior to surgery

Clean hands with soap and water or an alcohol based hand rub before and after caring for patient

Remove body hair immediately before surgery using electric clippers if the hair is in the same area where the procedure will occur (never shave or use a razor)

Cleansed surgical site with chlorhexidine or povidone iodine to help kill germs

Wear hair covers, masks, gowns, and gloves during surgery to keep surgery area clean

Give antibiotics before surgery starts, in most cases antibiotics should be given within 60 minutes before the surgery starts and the antibiotics should be stopped within 24 hours after the surgery. Antibiotics are given 60 minutes beofre th first cut so that the concentration is at its highest when the intial incision is made

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Control blood glucose in diabetics and avoid preop/postop hyperglycemia

Keep nails short and do not wear artificial nails

Maintain positive-pressure ventilation in the ORs

Keep OR doors closed when possible



Sterilize all instruments according to published guidelines

Change scrub suits that are visibly soiled

The surgical dressing should remain intact for a minum of 24-48 hrs postoperatively. This will help promote healing and prevent contamination and disruption of the moist healing enviromnet. When dressing must be changed use steril technique.

Discussion Topics: Perioperative glucose control with cardiac procedures (I work in a cardiac hospital and I find this topic extremely intersting. At work we take extreme measures to control glucose perioperatively.) Does anyone have any thoughts about this topic?

References:

The American College of Surgeons Journal

http://www.strategiesfornursemanagers.com/

www.cdc.gov.