Accounting for nearly 40% of nosocomial infections in patients, surgical site infections are the leading cause of nosocomial infections post-surgery. The cost of care for patients with surgical site infections is nearly 3-fold higher than that for surgical patients without the infections during the first eight weeks after hospital discharge. These infections reduce patients' quality of life and account for excess hospital days and costs.
The current article is adapted from the Surgical Care Improvement Project and recommends six preventive measures to reduce the burden of these infections. KEY CLINICAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRACTICE Prophylactic antibiotics should be initiated within one hour before surgical incision, or within two hours if the patient is receiving vancomycin or fluoroquinolones. Patients should receive prophylactic antibiotics appropriate for their specific procedure.…
