IrishMedicalNews

Microbiologist urges application of SSI bundles

Written by Lloyd Mudiwa Monday, 30 November 2009 15:22

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There is a need to convert theory into practice by the rigorous application of surgical site infection (SSI) healthcare bundles, a leading professor of clinical microbiology has said.

Recent studies suggest that, with a multidisciplinary approach, simple measures can be effective in reducing SSI rates, Prof Hilary Humphreys, Department of Clinical Microbiology, RCSI Education and Research Centre, highlighted.

“Enhancing compliance with best practice requires a multidisciplinary approach and ownership from all concerned,” the consultant microbiologist with Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, commented, citing recent studies.

Writing in The Hospital Infection Society, Prof Humphreys  said SSI is increasingly recognised as a measure of the quality of patient care by surgeons, infection control practitioners, health planners and the public, with increasing pressure to compare SSI rates between surgeons, institutions and countries.

“The introduction of healthcare bundles, incorporating validated methods and measures to prevent infection, which are rigorously policed and audited, is the way forward to reducing SSI and other HCAIs. Such bundles can be combined with other measures to ensure the quality and safety of patient care.

“For this to be meaningful, data must be standardised and must include post-discharge surveillance (PDS) as many superficial SSIs do not present to the original institution,” he raised, highlighting that further work is required to determine the best method of conducting PDS.

He also emphasised the effective interventions known to be important for some time, such as not shaving the surgical site until the day of the procedure, and physiological parameters, e.g., blood glucose concentrations, oxygen tensions and body temperature.

Laparoscopic procedures and the screening and decontamination of MRSA carriers for certain surgical procedures, which has to be balanced by cost and the risk of mupirocin resistance, are increasingly associated with reduced SSI rates, Prof Humphreys  said.