Abstract
Surgical Site infections (SSIs) can occur on the part of the body where surgery has been done. SSI is among the most important problems of healthcare organizations. Its rate has been increased 3% from July of 2013 until August of 2014. SSI can also represent quality care of patients taken care by surgeons. Healthcare experts are doing research on the pre-operative and post-operative strategies to reduce the problem of SSI. Prep agents such as Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and povidone-iodine (Betadine) can be used in preoperative surgical practices. Many studies have shown that chlorhexidine gluconate is excellent for both clinical efficacy and patient’s safety. The present project involves nurses, physicians, patients and the healthcare institutions to standardize prepping solution for the benefit of patients. Services of CareFusion have been taken to put facilities on the path to quality improvement by providing support and healthcare products. Involvement of all professionals can help in successful implementation. Proper planning model will be used for these processes.
Keywords: Surgical site infection, chlorhexidine gluconate
Surgical Site infections are among the most important problems of healthcare organizations. According to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (2012), a surgical site infection refers to an infection that manifests itself after surgery in the part or section of the body where the surgery has been done. Its rate has been increased 3% from July of 2013 until August of 2014. SSI is constantly upsetting both surgical patients and medical practice as a result of a huge level of patient mortality and morbidity. SSI can also represent quality care of patients served by surgeons (Humphreys, 2009). Healthcare experts are working on strategies to reduce the problem of SSI. Pre-operative strategies include removal of hair and potential pathogens (Hranjec, Swenson, & Sawyer, 2010), and sterile environment. Post-operative strategies include the use of antibiotics and dressing of wounds (Hübner, & Cima, 2012). Prep agents such as Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) and povidone-iodine (Betadine) can be used in preoperative surgical practices (Noorani, Rabey, Walsh, & Davies, 2010). Chlorhexidine is found to be a better prep agent as compared to povidone-iodine in reducing post-operative infections. A number of studies are demonstrating that chlorhexidine gluconate is excellent for both clinical efficacy and patient’s safety.
The present project includes nurses, healthcare experts, patients and healthcare institutions to standardize prepping solution for the benefit of patients. Services of CareFusion will be taken to put facilities on the path to quality improvement by providing support and products. This project will be launched on October 15th of week 7. On October 1st, CareFusion has already provided trainings to nurses and physicians to ensure best practices. Involvement of all professionals can help in successful implementation. Proper planning model will be used for these processes.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2012). Surgical Site Infection (SSI). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/hai/ssi/ssi.html
Hranjec, T., Swenson, B. R., & Sawyer, R. G. (2010). Surgical site infection prevention: how we do it. Surgical infections, 11(3), 289-294.
Hübner, M., & Cima, R. R. (2012). Colorectal Surgical Site Infections: Risk Factors and a Systematic Review of Prevention Strategies. In Seminars in Colon and Rectal Surgery , 23(4),171-177.
Humphreys, H. (2009). Preventing surgical site infection. Where now?. Journal of Hospital Infection, 73(4), 316-322.
Noorani, A., Rabey, N., Walsh, S. R., & Davies, R. J. (2010). Systematic review and meta‐analysis of preoperative antisepsis with chlorhexidine versus povidone–iodine in clean‐contaminated surgery. British Journal of Surgery, 97(11), 1614-1620.
