surgical site infections

why is this a priority to us?

• Surgical site infections can occur after any surgery when bacteria get into surgical wounds
• These can lead to need for antibiotics, longer recovery times, additional surgeries, and additional time in the hospital

who’s at greatest risk?

• Anyone having surgery can develop an infection
• Patients who are having devices implanted – such as rods in backs for scoliosis, or shunts in brains
• Large intestine (Colon) surgeries due to the large number of bacteria that naturally live there

what are we doing to reduce infections?

• We make efforts to reduce the number of bacteria on the skin prior to surgery by:
  • Asking patients to bathe the night before surgery
  • We wash their skin again in the pre-op area prior to surgery
  • The area that will be cut is thoroughly cleaned just prior to incision
• We give antibiotics in our highest risk cases just prior to incision to help reduce the chance of infection

what do we measure?

• At present we measure the number of infections related to spine cases and to specific neurosurgery cases.
• Beginning this year, we will also be measuring the number of infections related to large intestine cases.
• The rate is measured by total number of infections per 100 procedures (spine + neurosurgery)