Relias Media detailed the potential risk antimicrobial drug resistant organisms could pose to ASCs.
Here are the key details to know:
1. Antimicrobial resistance from bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant Enterococci and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae is on the rise.
2. Jeffrey Silvers, MD, Sacramento, Calif.-based Sutter Health's medical director of quality, infection control, and pharmacy, told Relias Media that as ASCs treat more patients with complicated cases, the risk of antimicrobial drug resistant organisms in patients increases.
3. Dr. Silvers said it's important for surgery centers to have infection control procedures in place to ensure infections aren't spread to patients.
4. Robert G. Sawyer, MD , Kalamazoo-based Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine's chairman of the department of surgery, told Relias Media that ASCs with more orthopedic patients are at increased risk of coming into contact with a patient with MRSA.
5. To help negate risks, surgery centers can evaluate patients for antimicrobial drug resistant organisms by screening for MRSA before surgery. Centers can then stock antibiotics the patient can use after surgery.
6. Following up with patients after surgery to check for surgical site infections can help ASCs document infections and determine if there's an infection control issue at the center.
