Impact of a preventive bundle to reduce surgical site infections in gynecologic oncology

To assess the impact of a surgical site infection (SSI) prevention bundle for Gynecologic Oncology patients at a large academic tertiary centre in Toronto, Canada.

A SSI prevention bundle was implemented in February 2017 including: preoperative chlorhexidine shower, prophylactic antibiotics, glycemic control, normothermia, and separate closing tray. Data were collected prospectively using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) institutional data, and chart review of surgeries between January 2016 and September 2017 was performed. The primary outcome was rate of SSIs, secondary outcomes were: superficial, deep and organ space SSIs, sepsis, wound disruption, length of stay, 30-day readmission and reoperation. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of SSIs.

339 baseline and 224 post-intervention patients were included. 53 incurred one or more SSIs: 43 superficial, 6 deep, and 14 organ-space. The bundle decreased overall SSIs by 55% (12.1% to 5.4%, p = 0.008) and superficial SSIs by 54% (9.7% to 4.5%, p = 0.023). Improvement was sustained for 6 quarters. No significant difference was found in other secondary outcomes. On multivariable analysis, surgery in the pre-bundle period, BMI ≥30, laparotomies and longer operative duration were independent risk factors for overall SSIs (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.06-5.06, -OR 3.01, 95% CI 1.57 - 5.87, OR 3.70, 95% CI 1.56 - 10.18 and - OR 2.16, 95% 1.11 - 4.19, respectively).

This prevention bundle successfully decreased SSIs in patients undergoing gynecologic cancer surgery. We recommend improving quality of care by wide implementation of SSI prevention bundles in Gynecologic Oncology patients.