[Infection control in the operating room: preventive measures and isolation precautions in cases of multidrug...

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Surgical Infection Prevention
• Healthcare Epidemiology

Context:

• Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) pose a significant challenge in healthcare settings, particularly in surgical environments.
• German hospitals routinely manage patients colonized or infected with MDROs, yet specific guidelines for operating room (OR) infection control are lacking.
• Uncertainty exists regarding the consistent application of adequate infection control measures in the OR for these patients.

Purpose:

• To evaluate current infection control practices in surgical departments of German university medical centers for patients with MDROs.
• To assess the availability and utilization of in-house standard operating procedures (SOPs) for perioperative infection control.
• To identify variations in infection control measures and highlight areas for improvement.

Summary:

• A questionnaire-based study analyzed practices in 19 surgical departments across 4 German university medical centers.
• Five in-house SOPs were also reviewed, revealing a wide spectrum of infection control measures applied.
• Significant variations in infection control practices were observed both between and within centers, irrespective of existing SOPs.

Impact:

• The findings underscore the urgent need for developing practical, evidence-based guidelines for perioperative infection control in patients with MDROs.
• Standardized guidelines can help reduce MDRO transmission and prevent the implementation of overly burdensome or ineffective measures.
• Optimizing the implementation of existing SOPs is crucial for enhancing patient safety and infection control outcomes.