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Do surgeons have a role as infectious disease consultants?
1Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn., USA.
Archives of Surgery (Chicago, Ill. : 1960)
|September 1, 1996
Summary
Antibiotic restriction policies are common in North American hospitals. However, most surgeons surveyed do not believe specialized infectious disease (ID) certification is needed for surgeons, despite limited recognition of surgical ID expertise by medical ID specialists.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Surgical Specialties
- Healthcare Policy
Background:
- Widespread implementation of antibiotic restriction policies in North American hospitals.
- Mandatory infectious disease consultation for routine antimicrobial agent use.
- Need to assess physician and institutional perspectives on surgical expertise in infectious diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate physician and institutional attitudes towards the credibility of surgeons in infectious disease.
- To understand the perception of surgical infectious disease expertise within the medical community.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to members of the Surgical Infectious Disease Society (SIS) in the United States and Canada.
- An anonymous opinion poll was administered to 464 SIS members.
- A response rate of 43% (198 members) was achieved, with most respondents from large university centers.
Main Results:
- Antibiotic restriction policies were nearly universal (87% of institutions), yet only 44% of surgeons could release antibiotic drugs.
- Medical infectious disease physicians recognized surgical expertise in only 32% of cases.
- 81% of responding surgeons believed a formal examination or certification in infectious disease for surgeons was unwarranted.
Conclusions:
- Despite prevalent antibiotic restrictions and limited recognition of surgical expertise by medical infectious disease specialists, surgeons do not see a need for specialized credentialing.
- A disconnect exists between institutional policies, interdisciplinary recognition, and surgeon self-perception regarding infectious disease expertise.