Best Practices and a Business Case for Surgical Site Infection Prevention

Minji Kang, Maria E. Andrew, Akil Farishta, Sarah C. Oltmann, Pranavi Sreeramoju

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Surgical site infections (SSIs) can be costly and result in prolonged hospital stays; readmissions; and additional diagnostic tests, therapeutic antibiotic treatments, and surgical procedures. Evidence-based practices for preventing SSIs include environmental cleaning; instrument cleaning, decontamination, and sterilization; preoperative bathing; preoperative Staphylococcus aureus decolonization; intraoperative antimicrobial prophylaxis; hand hygiene; and surgical hand antisepsis. Strong partnerships among infection prevention personnel, perioperative nurses, surgeons, and anesthesia professionals may enhance perioperative infection prevention. Facility and physician-specific SSI rates should be reported to physicians and frontline personnel in a timely, accessible manner. Together with costs associated with SSIs, these data help determine the success of an infection prevention program. Leaders can develop a comprehensive business case proposal for perioperative infection prevention programs. The proposal should describe the need for the program and anticipated return on investment; it also should focus on the goal of decreasing SSIs by establishing metrics for assessing outcomes and addressing barriers.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)277-290
Number of pages14
JournalAORN journal
Volume117
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2023

Keywords

  • business case proposal
  • cost-benefit analysis
  • health care–associated infection
  • infection prevention
  • surgical site infection (SSI)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medical–Surgical

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