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Decontamination protocol helps reduce surgical site infection risk
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Among patients who underwent elective orthopedic surgery with hardware implantation, surgical site infection rates decreased by more than 50% with the use of a preoperative methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus decontamination protocol, according to researchers’ findings.
The researchers analyzed 709 patients who underwent elective orthopedic surgery between October 2012 and December 2013, 344 of whom were included prior to the implementation of a decontamination protocol and 365 of whom were included after the implementation. Patients included in the decontamination protocol watched an educational video about methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) decontamination and were given chlorhexidine washcloths, an oral rinse and nasal povidone-iodine solution to be used the night before and the morning of scheduled surgery.
The researchers collected 30-day surgical-site infection (SSI) rates according to CDC National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance Data definitions, as well as data on demographics, comorbidities, tobacco use, alcohol use and BMI. A univariate analysis was performed between the two patient groups, and independent predictors of SSI were identified using multivariate analysis.
Results showed no significant differences in age, BMI, sex or comorbidities between the two groups. Within the intervention group, all of the patients completed the MRSA decontamination protocol and experienced a significantly lower SSI rate vs. the control group. MRSA was an independent predictor of not developing a SSI, according to multivariate logistic regression. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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