A Self-Sustaining Antibiotic Prophylaxis Program to Reduce Surgical Site Infections
Jesse A Codner1, Elissa A Falconer1, Eli Mlaver1
1Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Surgical Infections
|October 13, 2023
Summary
Improving surgical antibiotic prophylaxis compliance with a feedback tool significantly reduced surgical site infections (SSIs). This quality improvement initiative enhanced antibiotic administration protocols, leading to lower infection rates in surgical patients.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Quality Improvement
- Surgical Infection Prevention
- Antibiotic Stewardship
Background:
- A multi-institutional healthcare system experienced higher-than-expected surgical site infection (SSI) rates.
- Analysis revealed opportunities to standardize antibiotic selection and improve compliance feedback.
Purpose of the Study:
- To improve the peri-operative antibiotic administration process.
- To reduce the surgical site infection (SSI) rate through enhanced antibiotic prophylaxis.
Main Methods:
- Implemented a multifaceted quality improvement initiative with a pre-operative antibiotic compliance feedback tool at two facilities.
- Tracked antibiotic compliance and merged data with ACS-NSQIP for SSI outcomes.
- Compared protocol compliance and risk-adjusted SSI rates pre- and post-implementation.
Main Results:
- Antibiotic protocol compliance increased from 86.3% to 97.6% post-implementation.
- Superficial and deep SSIs decreased from 2.8% to 1.9% (p < 0.001).
- Risk-adjusted odds of SSI were reduced by 31% post-intervention.
Conclusions:
- Standardizing surgical antibiotic prophylaxis and providing near-real-time feedback improved compliance.
- The intervention led to a sustained reduction in superficial and deep SSIs.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
2.7K
Essential infection prevention measures are based on the knowledge of the infection chain, the modes of transmission in healthcare settings, and the use of the best practices in all healthcare settings. Compulsory public reporting of healthcare-associated infection rates is needed to allow individuals and the community to make informed choices regarding selecting a healthcare facility.
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
2.7K
01:28Asepsis
2.2K
The condition of being free from disease-causing living pathogens is asepsis. Aseptic techniques include a set of standard practices to achieve asepsis. An example is the regular environmental cleaning of all parts of the healthcare facility and hand hygiene at home before preparing or eating food. Medical and surgical asepsis in healthcare practice protects patients from harmful pathogens, minimizes the risk of contamination of susceptible sites, and reduces the risk of infection transmission.
2.2K
01:23Hand hygiene
3.3K
Asepsis is the practice of preventing or breaking the chain of infection. The nurse employs aseptic techniques to prevent the spread of microorganisms and reduce the risk of diseases. Hand hygiene is the cornerstone of aseptic techniques and is classified into medical and surgical asepsis. Medical asepsis includes hand hygiene and the use of gloves. Surgical asepsis, or the sterile technique, refers to practices that render and keep objects and areas free of microorganisms.
Hand washing...
Hand washing...
3.3K
01:26Standard Precaution
2.0K
Standard precautions are the minimum infection control safeguards used while caring for all patients, irrespective of their disease condition. They help prevent the spread of common infectious microorganisms to healthcare workers, patients, and visitors in all healthcare settings.
Hand hygiene is the most crucial means to prevent the transmission of disease. Employers are legally required to provide their workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure or contact with...
Hand hygiene is the most crucial means to prevent the transmission of disease. Employers are legally required to provide their workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure or contact with...
2.0K
01:26Endoscopic Procedures IV: Sigmoidoscopy and Laproscopy
97
Sigmoidoscopy and laparoscopy are distinct medical procedures that enable physicians to internally inspect different parts of the GI tract. Although they serve different purposes, each is essential for diagnosing and, in some cases, treating various medical conditions.
Sigmoidoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that uses a flexible sigmoidoscope equipped with a light source and camera to examine the rectum and sigmoid colon. The procedure involves inserting the tube through the anus...
Sigmoidoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy is a diagnostic procedure that uses a flexible sigmoidoscope equipped with a light source and camera to examine the rectum and sigmoid colon. The procedure involves inserting the tube through the anus...
97
01:30Bacterial Signaling
32.5K
Bacterial signaling can occur within bacteria (intracellular) or between bacteria (intercellular). At times, a group of bacteria behaves like a community. To achieve this, they engage in quorum sensing, the perception of higher cell density that causes changes in gene expression. Quorum sensing involves both extracellular and intracellular signaling. The signaling cascade starts with a molecule called an autoinducer (AI). Individual bacteria produce AIs that move out of the bacterial cell...
32.5K