Here are six resources offered by government and non-profit organizations to help healthcare facilities prevent and control the incidence of surgical site infections. Each resource is offered and downloadable at no cost.*
1. CDC developed a surgical site infection toolkit that includes a background overview of this type of healthcare-associated infections, core and supplemental prevention strategies, process and outcome measurements, tools for implementation as well as additional resources and references.
2. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement recently penned a how-to guide on prevention of surgical site infections. The guide describes four components that are essential to prevention efforts: appropriate use of prophylactic antibiotics; appropriate hair removal; controlled postoperative serum glucose in cardiac surgery and immediate postoperative normothermia in colon surgery. The guide also covers additional changes in care recommended by the Surgical Care Improvement Project, barriers to success, tip and tricks for successful implementation of each component and an FAQ section.
*Access to this how-to guide requires free registration.
3. The U.K.'s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has an interactive "pathway" guide on how to prevent and control surgical site infections based on the healthcare setting (primary/community vs. secondary; preoperative vs. intraoperative vs. postoperative).
4. Jhpiego, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, offers a 14-page comprehensive guide on the prevention of surgical site infections. The guide details factors that affect the risk of surgical site infections, how to reduce the risk of surgical site infections, rationale and use of prophylactic antibiotics and recommendations for prevention of bacterial endocarditis. The guide also provides tips for choosing a prophylactic antibiotic.
5. The American College of Surgeons' seven-page summary on surgical site infection prevention was crafted by the college's Committee on Operating Room Environment, in collaboration with other experts in the healthcare field. The summary includes a detailed list of specific recommendations for each surgical stage: preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative and surveillance. Each recommendation is supported by a marker indicating the strength of evidence.
6. The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, in partnership with the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, developed a guide to help eliminate orthopedic surgical site infections. The comprehensive guide offers expert insight on surveillance, development of an infection prevention program and outcomes reports and actionable prevention measures.
1. CDC developed a surgical site infection toolkit that includes a background overview of this type of healthcare-associated infections, core and supplemental prevention strategies, process and outcome measurements, tools for implementation as well as additional resources and references.
2. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement recently penned a how-to guide on prevention of surgical site infections. The guide describes four components that are essential to prevention efforts: appropriate use of prophylactic antibiotics; appropriate hair removal; controlled postoperative serum glucose in cardiac surgery and immediate postoperative normothermia in colon surgery. The guide also covers additional changes in care recommended by the Surgical Care Improvement Project, barriers to success, tip and tricks for successful implementation of each component and an FAQ section.
*Access to this how-to guide requires free registration.
Sign up for our FREE E-Weekly for more coverage like this sent to your inbox!
3. The U.K.'s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence has an interactive "pathway" guide on how to prevent and control surgical site infections based on the healthcare setting (primary/community vs. secondary; preoperative vs. intraoperative vs. postoperative).
4. Jhpiego, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins University, offers a 14-page comprehensive guide on the prevention of surgical site infections. The guide details factors that affect the risk of surgical site infections, how to reduce the risk of surgical site infections, rationale and use of prophylactic antibiotics and recommendations for prevention of bacterial endocarditis. The guide also provides tips for choosing a prophylactic antibiotic.
5. The American College of Surgeons' seven-page summary on surgical site infection prevention was crafted by the college's Committee on Operating Room Environment, in collaboration with other experts in the healthcare field. The summary includes a detailed list of specific recommendations for each surgical stage: preoperative, intraoperative, postoperative and surveillance. Each recommendation is supported by a marker indicating the strength of evidence.
6. The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, in partnership with the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, developed a guide to help eliminate orthopedic surgical site infections. The comprehensive guide offers expert insight on surveillance, development of an infection prevention program and outcomes reports and actionable prevention measures.
