Prevention of Surgical Site Infections (SSI)

Learning objectives 1.Explain the relevance and impact of SSI. 2.Identify the risk factors associated with SSI. 3.Describe the main recommendations to prevent SSI. December 1,

Time involved minutes December 1,

Background - 1 One of the most important healthcare associated infections 25% of all HAIs 40% to 60% preventable High cost prolong hospital stay increase antimicrobial and laboratory costs require added health care interventions December 1,

Background - 2 Sterilisation, aseptic technique, clean air, and prophylaxis have reduced SSI The numbers are still high Important cause of morbidity and mortality Multi-factorial Difficult to determine the exact cause Higher in developing nations December 1,

Factors that influence transmission of infection Patient risk factors Types of surgical procedures Operating room environment December 1,

Patient risk factors December 1, 2013 ProvenControversial Uncontrolled DiabetesNutrition status Obesity especially in orthopaedic and cardiac Coexisting remote infection Smoking Colonisation with microorganisms Perioperative transfusion Length of preoperative stay 7

Operative Risk Factors - 1 Colonisation of the operative site Antiseptic bath Skin antisepsis (consider clorhexidine ) Colonisation of the surgical team Surgical scrub with antiseptic No artificial nails Preoperative shaving Infected or colonised surgical personnel December 1,

Operative risk factors - 2 Duration of operation Contamination of the operative site Antimicrobial prophylaxis Foreign material in the surgical site sutures and drains Hypothermia Surgical technique December 1,

Environmental risk factors Operating room ventilation Number of people in OR Inanimate surfaces Inadequate sterilisation Surgical clothes, gloves and masks December 1,

Ventilation system December 1,

Surveillance Shown to reduce SSI risk Post-discharge surveillance essential Should include Standard definitions Risk stratification Typical definition Purulent drainage from the incision site or from the site of a drain with either a positive or negative culture December 1,

Risk stratification Based on a specific surgery Cholecystectomy, hernia repair, Caesarean section, hip replacement Specific risk of patients Type of surgery Clean, clean-contaminated, contaminated, or dirty Compare the clean wound SSI rates among different surgeons Patient index Standardised infection ratios December 1,

Basic Recommendations for Prevention – Preoperative - 1 Identify and treat all infections Good control of diabetes Minimum hospital stay Do not remove hair preoperatively If essential, use a non-invasive procedure, e.g., clipper Skin preparation with antiseptic December 1,

Basic Recommendations for Prevention – Preoperative - 2 Surgical scrub with antiseptic (can be water- less); nail cleaner No brushes Exclude personnel with infections Prophylactic antibiotics Determine the level of experience required for surgeons in complex surgeries December 1,

Surgical hand scrub/hand rub December 1,

Basic Recommendations for Prevention – Intraoperative - 1 Surgical checklist Limit the duration of the procedure Validate Sterilisation No flash sterilisation routinely Sterile gloves Water-repellent gowns and drapes, mask, cap Positive pressure ventilation (20 changes per hour) Filter air Doors closed December 1,

Basic Recommendations for Prevention – Intraoperative - 2 Restrict entrance and movements Asepsis in interventions and invasive procedures Handle of tissue gently Drains only if is necessary Remove as soon as possible Normothermia Temperature between 36.5 and 37°C Normoglycaemia <200 mg/dL December 1,

Basic Recommendations for Prevention – Intraoperative - 3 Avoid artificial nails among surgical team Screening and decolonisation of carriers of S. aureus in high-risk patients No special procedures after contaminated or dirty operations No over-shoes and tacky mats December 1,

Basic Recommendations for Prevention - Postoperative Don’t touch the wound unless necessary Review daily the necessity of continuing drains and take out when no necessary Surveillance system for SSI with risk classifications Post-discharge surveillance for ambulatory surgery or short hospital stay December 1,

Minimal requirements for the prevention of SSIs Do not remove hair unless necessary Glycaemia control in cardiac and vascular surgery Antiseptic for skin preparation Surgical scrub with antiseptic Prophylactic antimicrobial Validate sterilisation Asepsis in interventions or invasive procedures Surveillance with standard definitions and risk classification December 1,

Summary SSI development is multifactorial There are strategies like surgical techniques, skin preparation, and the timing and method of wound closure that influence it Antibiotic prophylaxis may have a positive impact in certain types of surgery December 1,

References Galway UA, Parker BM, Borkowski RG. Prevention of Postoperative Surgical Site Infections. International Anes Clinics 2009; 47(4): 37–53. Mangram, AJ, et al. Guideline for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, The Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1999; 20: Hranjec T, Swenson BR, Sawyer RG. Surgical site infection prevention: how we do it. (Report). Surg Infections 2010; 11 (3): December 1,

References Ercole FF, et al. Applicability of the national nosocomial infections surveillance system risk index for the prediction of surgical site infections: a review. Braz J Infect Dis 2007;11(1): Edwards JR, Horan TC. Risk-Adjusted Comparisons. IN: APIC Text of Infection Control and Epidemiology. 3rd ed. Association for Professionalsin Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Washington, DC. 2009: 7-1 to 7-7. Haynes AB, et al. A Surgical Safety Checklist to Reduce Morbidity and Mortality in a Global Population. N Engl J Med 2009; 360 (5): 91–99. Checklist at publications/2009/ _eng_Checklist.pdf December 1,

Further reading Potenza B, et al. Lessons learned from the institution of the Surgical Care Improvement Project at a teaching medical center. Am J Surg 2009; 198(6): Awad SS, et al. Implementation of a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prevention bundle results in decreased MRSA surgical site infections. Am J Surg 2009; 198(5): Tom TS, Kruse MW, Reichman RT. Update: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus screening and decolonization in cardiac surgery. Ann Thorac Surg 2009; 88(2): Akins PT, et al. Perioperative management of neurosurgical patients with methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus. J Neurosurg 2010; 112(2): December 1,

Web sites CDC/NHSN Surveillance Definition of Healthcare-Associated Infection and Criteria for Specific Types of Infections in the Acute Care Setting –US. t.pdf t.pdf Institute for Healthcare Improvement (US). National Nosocomial Infection Program. Ministry of Health Chile. Surgical Site Infections – National Healthcare Safety Network, US. Surgical Site Infection Surveillance Service (UK). icalSiteInfectionSurveillanceService/ icalSiteInfectionSurveillanceService/ WHO - Safe Surgery Saves Lives. December 1,

Quiz 1.A key in a surveillance system for SSI is to have risk stratification of the patients included. T/F? 2.Which of the following is a risk factor for SSI? a)Controlled diabetes b)Type of suture c)Breaks in the aseptic technique during surgery d)Design of the operating room table 3.Which statement regarding antimicrobial prophylaxis is correct? a)In all cases one dose is enough b)Has shown reduction in SSI in selected surgeries c)Must be used for more than 48 hrs. after the surgery d)All the available drugs are the same December 1,

International Federation of Infection Control IFIC’s mission is to facilitate international networking in order to improve the prevention and control of healthcare associated infections worldwide. It is an umbrella organisation of societies and associations of healthcare professionals in infection control and related fields across the globe. The goal of IFIC is to minimise the risk of infection within healthcare settings through development of a network of infection control organisations for communication, consensus building, education and sharing expertise. For more information go to December 1,