In a study presented at the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America’s 20th annual meeting, researchers analyzed processes and institutional infection data, and developed four initiatives to reduce D-SSI:
• Refresh training opportunities for operating room staff on antiseptic technique, sterility and standardization of skin-site preparation
• Develop a skin-site preparation procedure that incorporates chlorhexidine gluconate-based skin antiseptic
• Provide patient education about bathing in CHG before surgery
• Standard the process and addition of vancomycin to the preoperative antibiotic regimen
After implementing these initiatives for 12 months, the researchers reported a 66 percent reduction in hip arthroplasty D-SSI and an 80 percent reduction in knee D-SSI. These numbers continued to improve for at least six months after the initial study period. Judith O’Donnell, MD, chief of infectious diseases and hospital epidemiologist at the Penn Presbyterian Medical Center in Philadelphia, felt there was benefit in combining the initiatives together and implementing them over a short period of time.
Cleveland Clinic also experienced success with infection control initiatives, according to the report.
Read the report on deep surgical site infections among orthopedic patients.
Related Articles on Orthopedic Infection Control:
6 Tips for Orthopedic Surgery Infection Control
Scoliosis Research Society Study Benchmarks Postsurgical Infection Rate
Mount Sinai Hospital Protocols Focus on Surgical Site Infection Prevention for Total joint Replacements
