Effect of weight-adjusted antimicrobial antibiotic prophylaxis on postoperative dosage and surgical site infection incidence in total joint arthroplasty

Surgical site infections(SSI)following total joint arthroplasty pose a significant concern for both providers and patients across the globe.Currently,administration of antimicrobial antibiotic prophylaxis is used throughout the world to reduce the incidence of SSI.However,the correct dosage and frequency of administration remains debatable.In this editorial,we emphasized the determination of the effect of administration of weight-adjusted antimicrobial antibiotic prophylaxis regime on the incidence of SSI and postoperative dosage reduction compared to the conventionally used regime during total joint arthroplasty.The results demonstrated similar efficacy between both regimes with respect to the incidence of SSI.In addition,weight-adjustment led to reduced postoperative dosage and has the potential to reduce chances of achieving lower therapeutic concentration,drug resistance,drug toxicity,and costs.

Incidence of surgical site infection in minimally invasive colorectal surgery

BACKGROUND Surgical site infection(SSI)is a common complication of colorectal surgery.Minimally invasive surgery notably reduces the incidence of SSI.This study aimed to compare the incidences of SSI after robot-assisted colorectal surgery(RACS)vs that after laparoscopic assisted colorectal surgery(LACS)and to analyze associated risk factors for SSI in minimally invasive colorectal surgery.AIM To compare the incidences of SSI after RACS and LACS,and to analyze the risk factors associated with SSI after minimally invasive colorectal surgery.METHODS Clinical data derived from patients who underwent minimally invasive colorectal surgery between October 2020 and October 2022 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University were collated.Differences in clinical characteristics and surgeryrelated information associated with RACS and LACS were compared,and possible risk factors for SSI were identified.RESULTS A total of 246 patients(112 LACS and 134 RACS)were included in the study.Fortythree(17.5%)developed SSI.The proportions of patients who developed SSI were similar in the two groups(17.9%vs 17.2%,P=0.887).Diabetes mellitus,intraoperative blood loss≥100 mL,and incision length were independent risk factors for SSI.Possible additional risk factors included neoadjuvant therapy,lesion site,and operation time.CONCLUSION There was no difference in SSI incidence in the RACS and LACS groups.Diabetes mellitus,intraoperative blood loss≥100 mL,and incision length were independent risk factors for postoperative SSI.

Risk factors and prediction model for inpatient surgical site infection after elective abdominal surgery

BACKGROUND Surgical site infections(SSIs) are the commonest healthcare-associated infection. In addition to increasing mortality, it also lengthens the hospital stay and raises healthcare expenses. SSIs are challenging to predict, with most models having poor predictability. Therefore, we developed a prediction model for SSI after elective abdominal surgery by identifying risk factors.AIM To analyse the data on inpatients undergoing elective abdominal surgery to identify risk factors and develop predictive models that will help clinicians assess patients preoperatively.METHODS We retrospectively analysed the inpatient records of Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital from January 1, 2018 to January 1, 2021. We included the demographic data of the patients and their haematological test results in our analysis. The attending physicians provided the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002(NRS 2002)scores. The surgeons and anaesthesiologists manually calculated the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance(NNIS) scores. Inpatient SSI risk factors were evaluated using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression. Nomograms were used in the predictive models. The receiver operating characteristic and area under the curve values were used to measure the specificity and accuracy of the model.RESULTS A total of 3018 patients met the inclusion criteria. The surgical sites included the uterus(42.2%), the liver(27.6%), the gastrointestinal tract(19.1%), the appendix(5.9%), the kidney(3.7%), and the groin area(1.4%). SSI occurred in 5% of the patients(n = 150). The risk factors associated with SSI were as follows: Age;gender;marital status;place of residence;history of diabetes;surgical season;surgical site;NRS 2002 score;preoperative white blood cell, procalcitonin(PCT), albumin, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL) levels;preoperative antibiotic use;anaesthesia method;incision grade;NNIS score;intraoperative blood loss;intraoperative drainage tube placement;surgical operation items. Multivariate logistic regression revealed the following independent risk factors: A history of diabetes [odds ratio(OR) = 5.698, 95% confidence interval(CI): 3.305-9.825, P = 0.001], antibiotic use(OR = 14.977, 95%CI: 2.865-78.299, P = 0.001), an NRS 2002 score of ≥ 3(OR = 2.426, 95%CI: 1.199-4.909, P = 0.014), general anaesthesia(OR = 3.334, 95%CI: 1.134-9.806, P = 0.029), an NNIS score of ≥ 2(OR = 2.362, 95%CI: 1.019-5.476, P = 0.045), PCT ≥ 0.05 μg/L(OR = 1.687, 95%CI: 1.056-2.695, P = 0.029), LDL < 3.37 mmol/L(OR = 1.719, 95%CI: 1.039-2.842, P = 0.035), intraoperative blood loss ≥ 200 mL(OR = 29.026, 95%CI: 13.751-61.266, P < 0.001), surgical season(P < 0.05), surgical site(P < 0.05), and incision grade I or Ⅲ(P < 0.05). The overall area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the predictive model was 0.926, which is significantly higher than the NNIS score(0.662).CONCLUSION The patient’s condition and haematological test indicators form the bases of our prediction model. It is a novel, efficient, and highly accurate predictive model for preventing postoperative SSI, thereby improving the prognosis in patients undergoing abdominal surgery.

Subcutaneous fat thickness and abdominal depth are risk factors for surgical site infection after gastric cancer surgery

BACKGROUND Surgical site infection(SSI)is one of the most common complications after gastric cancer(GC)surgery.The occurrence of SSI can lead to a prolonged postoperative hospital stay and increased medical expenses,and it can also affect postoperative rehabilitation and the quality of life of patients.Subcutaneous fat thickness(SFT)and abdominal depth(AD)can be used as predictors of SSI in patients undergoing radical resection of GC.AIM To explore the potential relationship between SFT or AD and SSI in patients undergoing elective radical resection of GC.METHODS Demographic,clinical,and pre-and intraoperative information of 355 patients who had undergone elective radical resection of GC were retrospectively collected from hospital electronic medical records.Univariate analysis was performed to screen out the significant parameters,which were subsequently analyzed using binary logistic regression and receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis.RESULTS The prevalence of SSI was 11.27%(40/355).Multivariate analyses revealed that SFT[odds ratio(OR)=1.150;95%confidence interval(95%CI):1.090-1.214;P<0.001],AD(OR=1.024;95%CI:1.009-1.040;P=0.002),laparoscopic-assisted surgery(OR=0.286;95%CI:0.030-0.797;P=0.017),and operation time(OR=1.008;95%CI:1.001-1.015;P=0.030)were independently associated with the incidence of SSI after elective radical resection of GC.In addition,the product of SFT and AD was a better potential predictor of SSI in these patients than either SFT or AD alone.CONCLUSION SFT and AD are independent risk factors and can be used as predictors of SSI in patients undergoing radical resection of GC.

Recent evidence for subcutaneous drains to prevent surgical site infections after abdominal surgery:A systematic review and metaanalysis

BACKGROUND Surgical site infections(SSIs)increase mortality,hospital stays,additional medical treatment,and medical costs.Subcutaneous drains prevent SSIs in gynecological and breast surgeries;however,their clinical impact in abdominal surgery remains unclear.AIM To investigate whether subcutaneous drains were beneficial in abdominal surgery using a systematic review and meta-analysis.METHODS The database search used PubMed,MEDLINE,and the Cochrane Library.The following inclusion criteria were set for the systematic review:(1)Randomized controlled trial studies comparing SSIs after abdominal surgery with or without subcutaneous drains;and(2)Studies that described clinical outcomes,such as SSIs,seroma formation,the length of hospital stays,and mortality.RESULTS Eight studies were included in this meta-analysis.The rate of total SSIs was significantly lower in the drained group(54/771,7.0%)than in the control group(89/759,11.7%),particularly in gastrointestinal surgery.Furthermore,the rate of superficial SSIs was slightly lower in the drained group(31/517,6.0%)than in the control group(49/521,9.4%).No significant differences were observed in seroma formation between the groups.Hospital stays were shorter in the drained group than in the control group.CONCLUSION Subcutaneous drains after abdominal surgery prevented SSIs and reduced hospital stays but did not significantly affect seroma formation.The timing of drain removal needs to be reconsidered in future studies.

Preventing surgical site infection using operating room bundle of care in patients undergoing elective exploratory laparotomy cholecystectomy surgery

Objective:Surgical procedures manifest immense risks to patients.One of the adverse events that healthcare professionals see as a threat to the patient’s health is the development of complications known as surgical site infection(SSI).Although several effor ts are being under taken to determine the proper means to reduce such complications,there is still a high incidence of SSI worldwide.Surgery requires knowledge in infection control and high precision in maintaining a clean surgical site.This study tested the effectiveness of an operating room(OR)bundle of care in preventing SSI in patients undergoing elective exploratory laparotomy cholecystectomy surgery.Methods:A quasi-experimental pretest and posttest design was utilized to determine its effectiveness.The study was composed of 60 par ticipants divided into two groups:30 subjects were selected to receive the OR bundle of care,while the other 30 subjects received the usual care.The groupings were determined through a systematic random sampling technique.The OR bundle of care had three interventions,namely:(1)maintaining perioperative normothermia,(2)no pre-operative surgical site hair removal,and(3)changing gloves before abdominal wall closure.These patients were evaluated using the standard instrument,Bates–Jensen Wound Assessment Tool(BWAT)in the post-intervention phases of the wound healing process,which are as follows:hemostasis,inflammatory,and proliferative phases.To describe the difference in the patients’wound status after implementation of the OR bundle of care in each post-intervention phase,Friedman’s test was used.To describe the difference in the patients’wound status in both groups after implementation of the OR bundle of care,the Mann–Whitney U test was used.Results:The patient’s wound status was lower,indicating a more healing process.Differences between the wound status of the control and the experimental group were observed on the third postoperative day.This indicates that the experimental group’s wound status healed much faster and more effectively than the control group based on the BWAT scoring severity scoring.A significant difference in the patient’s wound status from the hemostasis phase compared with the proliferative phase was observed.Conclusions:The OR bundle of care has been shown to be effective in preventing SSI in patients who had undergone exploratory laparotomy cholecystectomy surgery in the selected hospital,if there is uniform and consistent implementation of the said intervention.

Incidence and Outcomes of Surgical Site Infections after Adult Cardiac Surgery: A Single-Center Experience

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain a challenging medical problem, especially in cardiac surgery patients. There is a lack of studies evaluating the rate of and outcomes of SSIs following cardiac surgeries in Saudi Arabia. Aims: This study aimed to determine the incidence of SSIs after adult cardiac surgeries that were done in Madinah Cardiac Center, Saudi Arabia. Further, to identify the outcomes and risk factors contributing to death among surgical site infection patients. Methods: This was a 6-year, single-center, retrospective cohort study that included 93 consecutive patients who underwent adult cardiac surgery between August 2016 and August 2022. All adult patients aged 18 years or older who had clinical evidence of postoperative surgical wound infection were included. Preoperative, operative, and postoperative data (early and late) were collected from medical records. Microbiological culture reports and clinical outcomes were also recorded. Results: The study revealed a 9.1% (93/1021) incidence rate of SSIs. Of the 93 patients with SSIs, 60 had superficial incisional infections and 33 had deep infections with incidence rates of 5.9% and 3.2%, respectively. In-hospital mortality due to SSI was recorded in 4 out of 93 patients with an incidence rate of 4.3%. There was a significant association between the in-hospital mortality and the type of SSIs (p = 0.014). All non-survivors had deep SSIs. The type of cardiac surgery also showed a significant association with the in-hospital mortality (p = 0.017). Furthermore, the median duration of antibiotic administration was significantly longer in the non-survivors than in the survivors (72.5 vs 17, respectively, p Conclusions: In conclusion, the incidence of surgical wound infections following cardiac surgery is not low (9.1%);of which 3.2% were deep infections. The in-hospital mortality rate after treatment of SSIs was fortunately low (4.3%), and all non-survivors had deep SSIs. The non- survivors showed a significantly longer duration of antibiotics administration than survivors. Combined CABG and valve procedures showed a higher mortality rate (75%) than the isolated procedures.

Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infections in Patients Operated at the University Clinic of Traumatology-Orthopedics and Restorative Surgery of the National Hospital and University Center Hubert Koutoukou Maga in Cotonou

Background: Operative site infections (ISO) are typically nosocomial. According to the WHO the incidence of ISO varies from 0.5% to 15% and exceeds 25% in developing countries. They result from the combined action of several factors and represent a concern for public health. To study the contributing factors of surgical site infections in patients operated at the University Clinic of Orthopedic Traumatology of CNHU-HKM of Cotonou. Method: This was an analytical cross-sectional study that involved 35 operated patients and ten nurses. Were included in our study: 1) All patients, without distinction of sex or age, having been operated on in the university clinic of orthopedic traumatology, during the survey period;2) Patients hospitalized for post-operative care during the survey period;3) The nursing staff on duty during our study period. The usual statistical measures were used according to the type of variables: means, standard deviations, percentages. Data analysis first involved calculating percentages for the qualitative variables and means followed by their standard deviations for the quantitative variables. Next, the Pearson Chi-square test was used to test the association between the dependent variable and the independent variables of interest. The significance level is set at p Results: The prevalence of surgical site infections was 28.58%. The main factors contributing to the occurrence of SSIs that were found were the patient’s level of education (p = 0.003) and the reuse of bandages used for dressing (p = 0.004). Other potential factors such as the economic status of the patient, the poor quality of technical dressings, and the preoperative stay were also highlighted. Conclusion: Surgical site infections remain a global concern. Risk factors were found on both the patient and nurse sides. It is urgent to address these various factors to minimize the occurrence of surgical site infections.

Surveillance of Surgical Site Infections: A Public Health Emergency in a Regional Hospital of Northern Benin. A Prospective Observational Pilot Study

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are considered as result of the healthcare quality in hospitals. Objective: to study SSI at Saint Jean de Dieu Hospital Tanguieta (SJDHT), prior to the implementation of a permanent monitoring system. Method: transversal, and descriptive study with prospective data collection was performed from 1 July to 31 janvier 2017 in the department of general surgery of SJDHT. The hospital lacks in a microbiology unit. All patients who underwent surgery during this period were included and the monitoring lasted one month. SSIs diagnostic was carried out according to WHO criteria as described in the Practical Guide for the Prevention of Nosocomial Infections published in 2002. Statistical tests (χ-square and Student’s t-test) were applied and p 0.05 were statistically significant. Results: Of 343 patients recorded, 105 (30.6%) had SSI. Their age averaged 40.3 years and the sex-ratio (men/women) was 2.8. The emergency surgery resulted in a 50.0% rate of SSI (p = 0.00). The SSI rate for clean and clean-contaminated surgery was 6.3% against 94.6% for infected surgery (p = 0.00). The SSI rates were 100% and 66.7% for NNISS = 2 and NNISS = 1 (p = 0.00), respectively. Superficial SSI rate was 13.3%, while deep SSI and organ/space SSI were 46.7% and 40%, respectively. The hospital stay of patients with SSI was three times longer than the length of patients without SSI (p = 0.00). Conclusion: SSIs are real burden at SJDHT. Appropriate measures must be adopted to reduce its prevalence.

Postoperative surgical site infection in cholesteatoma surgery with and without mastoid obliteration, what can we learn?

Introduction:This study aims to describe the occurrence of postoperative complications related to cholesteatoma surgery and to determine factors influencing the most common complication,i.e.postoperative surgical site infection(SSI)in cases with and without mastoid obliteration.Materials and methods:Retrospective analyses were performed on surgically treated cholesteatomas in our hospital between 2013 and 2019.Patient characteristics,peri-and postoperative management and complications were reviewed.The cases were divided into two groups based on whether mastoid obliteration was performed or not.Results:A total of 336 cholesteatoma operations were performed,of which 248 cases received mastoid obliteration.In total 21 complications were observed,of which SSI was the most common(15/21).No difference in occurrence of any postoperative complication was seen between the obliteration and noobliteration group(p=0.798),especially not in the number of SSI(p=0.520).Perioperative and/or postoperative prophylactic antibiotics were not associated to the development of an SSI in both groups.In the no-obliteration group a younger age(p=0.015),as well as primary surgery(p=0.022)increased the risk for SSI.In the obliteration group the use of bioactive glass(BAG)S53P4 was identified as independent predictor of SSI(p=0.008,OR 5.940).Discussion:SSI is the most common postoperative complication in cholesteatoma surgery.The causes of SSI are multifactorial,therefore further prospective research is needed to answer which factors can prevent the development of an SSI in cholesteatoma surgery.

Vancomycin lavage for the incidence of acute surgical site infection following primary total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty

BACKGROUND Surgical site infection is a rare but serious complication associated with total joint arthroplasty(TJA).There are limited data on the effectiveness of intrawound irrigation with vancomycin solution(1000 mg/L;2 L)before wound closure for preventing acute surgical site infection following primary total hip arthroplasty(THA)and total knee arthroplasty(TKA).AIM To investigate the effectiveness of prophylactic intraoperative application of vancomycin(1000 mg/L;2 L)solution vs.plain irrigation in reducing the incidence of acute surgical site infection following primary THA and TKA.METHODS A retrospective review of 2725 consecutive patients undergoing THA or TKA from January 2012–December 2019 was performed.These patients received either intrawound irrigation with normal saline before wound closure between January 2012 and December 2015(group 1,1018 patients;453 undergoing THA and 565 undergoing TKA)or intrawound irrigation with vancomycin solution(1000 mg/L)before wound closure between January 2016 and December 2019(group 2,1175 patients;512 undergoing THA and 663 undergoing TKA).The outcomes were the incidences of postoperative surgical site infection and wound healing complications within 3 mo of primary TJA.RESULTS There were no significant demographic differences between the 2 groups.There was a significantly higher incidence of acute infection at the surgical site in patients who received intrawound irrigation with normal saline before wound closure than in those who received intrawound irrigation with vancomycin solution(1000 mg/L;2 L)before wound closure(overall incidence of infection:group 1,2.46%vs group 2,0.09%,P<0.001).There was no significant difference in the incidence of wound healing complications between the two groups.CONCLUSION Prophylactic irrigation with vancomycin solution(1000 mg/L;2 L)significantly decreases the incidence of acute surgical site infection after primary TJA.This strategy is a safe,efficacious,and inexpensive method for reducing the incidence of acute surgical site infection after TJA.

Identification of risk factors for surgical site infection after type Ⅱ and type Ⅲ tibial pilon fracture surgery

BACKGROUND High-energy tibial pilon fractures are complex and severe fractures that are associated with a high risk of infection following open reduction and internal fixation.Infection can negatively impact patient outcomes.AIM To compare risk factors for postoperative infection after open reduction and internal fixation for a pilon fracture.METHODS Among the 137 patients included,67 developed a surgical site infection.Demographic,clinical,and surgical factors were compared between the two groups.A binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the odds ratio(OR)and corresponding 95% CI for significant risk factors for postoperative infection.RESULTS The distribution of pathogenic bacteria among the 67 patients who developed a surgical site infection was as follows:Gram-positive,58.2%(n=39);Gramnegative,38.8%(n=26);and fungal,2.9%(n=2).The following factors were associated with postoperative infection(P<0.05):a Ruedi–Allgower pilon fracture type Ⅲ(OR=2.034;95%CI:1.109–3.738);a type Ⅲ surgical incision(OR=1.840;95%CI:1.177–2.877);wound contamination(OR=2.280;95%CI:1.378–3.772);and diabetes as a comorbidity(OR=3.196;95%CI:1.209–8.450).CONCLUSION Infection prevention for patients with a Ruedi–Allgower fracture type Ⅲ,surgical incision type Ⅲ,wound contamination,and diabetes lowers the postoperative infection risk after surgical management of tibial pilon fractures.

Surgical Site Infection (SSI) in the National Referral General Hospital of Ndjamena (Chad): Survey about Risk Factors

The risk to develop an infection after surgery depends on several factors. Those factors may be interdependent or not, depending on the nature of the surgery and the general condition of the patient. The aim of the present study was to identify the factors involved in the occurrence of the Surgical Site Infections (SSI) in the National referral general hospital of N’djamena (Chad). We first realized an interview in the emergency services and in the general surgery of the hospital. The information collected allowed us to draw up survey sheets. An investigation was then conducted on 152 patients who had surgery and were hospitalized during the study period. The frequency of the SSI was 33.6% (51/152). The main risk factors that we identified were the duration of hospitalization, the category of the hospitalization room, the urgent aspect of the surgical intervention, the patient’s nutritional status and the associated diseases with diabetes, which was present in 52.38% (11/21) of cases of associated pathologies. Analysis of the antibiotic prophylaxis administered to patients showed that ciprofloxacin was more effective in SSI prevention. Indeed, this antibiotic showed the fewest cases of infection with only 1.9% of patients having developed SSI. Our results show a very high frequency of SSI at the National referral general hospital of N’djamena. Poor hospital practices and factors associated to patients seem to be the most factors implicated in the SSI.

Antibiotic Prescribing Patterns and Prevalence of Surgical Site Infections in Caesarean Section Deliveries at Two Tertiary Hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia

Introduction: A caesarean section (CS) is one of the most frequently performed obstetric surgeries in the world and its use has increased dramatically in recent years. The number of caesarean section cases worldwide has been increasing each year, and the World Health Organization (WHO) reported an excess of 10% - 15% of CS procedures for all births. However, some women experience surgical site infections (SSIs) after undergoing CS delivery. This study investigated the prescribing patterns of antibiotics in CS deliveries and the prevalence of SSIs at two tertiary hospitals in Lusaka, Zambia. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2020 at the Women and Newborn University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and the Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital, in Lusaka, Zambia. Results: Of a total of 838 women who delivered via CS, more than half were aged between 21 and 25 years (n = 461, 55.0%), 56.3% were from low-cost residential areas, and 57% had emergency CS delivery. The prevalence of SSIs was 6.0%, with the level of education (OR 0.377, 95% CI 0.150 - 0.946), type of caesarean section (OR 6.253, 95% CI 2.833 - 13.803), and oral antibiotics post-caesarean (OR 0.218, 95% CI 0.049 - 0.963). The duration of IV antibiotic treatment significantly predicted SSI (p Conclusion: This study found that the third-generation cephalosporin (cefotaxime) and triple combination therapy (benzylpenicillin, gentamicin, and metronidazole) were the most frequently prescribed antibiotics before and after CS. The level of education, type of CS, oral antibiotics post-CS, facility, and duration of administering IV antibiotics were all predictors of SSIs.

Risk Factor of Postoperative Lumbar Surgical Site Infection: A Literature Review

Nowadays there have been various advanced techniques to overcome disparate types of lumbar degenerative diseases. However, post-operation complications such as Surgical Site Infection (SSI) still give the surgeon with a big challenge. This article is going to study the risk factor that causes the lumbar SSI by reviewing all the articles that can be assessed through PubMed, websites of science and other internet data base. Numerous articles have stated different reported prevalence rates of 0.7% to 16% for surgical site infection. This article will document the most common and significant risk factors for SSI. At last, we suggest that there should be preoperative patient screening and postoperative internal environment maintenance, this will be the best way to reduce postoperative SSI rate or prevent SSI from happening.

Wound irrigation for preventing surgical site infections

Wound irrigation(i.e.washing out a wound before wound closure)aims to reduce the microbial burden by removing tissue debris,metabolic waste,and tissue exudate from the surgical field before site closure.Although it is a popular procedure in every day surgical practice,the lack of procedure standardization,leads to studies with high heterogeneity and often controversial results.Thus,there are studies that advocate its use,while others discourage its implementation in clinical practice to reduce the risk of surgical site infection.The present article reviews the current literature on wound irrigation for preventing surgical site infections.Several irrigants are presented.Chlorexidine is generally considered to be less effective than povidone-iodine,while antibiotics are not that common nowadays,as they require prolonged exposure with the target to act.Hydrogen peroxide has several potential complications,which eliminate its use.Any differences in the incidence of surgical site infections between different irrigants,especially between antibacterial and non-bacterial ones,should be viewed sceptically.More randomized controlled studies are needed to provide better quality of evidence regarding the irrigants'effectiveness and safety.

What Is the Evidence Supporting the Use of Surgical Face Masks in the Operating Room in Preventing Surgical Site Infection after Clean Surgery? A Systematic Review

Background: Facemask is an essential component of the surgical outfit adorned by operating room staff to filter microorganisms by droplets from the oral and nasopharynx of the personnel, thereby reducing contamination, protecting the patient’s wound and minimising the risk of Surgical Site Infections (SSI). Objective: The objective of this review was to explore the available evidence and provide a better understanding of the effect of a surgical facemask in preventing SSI in clean surgery performed in the operating room. Data sources: Key electronic databases related to nursing, allied health, life science, biomedicine and research were searched for published literature on the use of facemask in the operating room. Methodology: A systematic review of quantitative research studies of randomised controlled trials was conducted with a meta-analysis of the results. Results: No variation in the rate of infection between the two (masked and unmasked) groups. Conclusion: The effect of facemask in minimising SSI after clean surgery remains questionable due to the limited results. More comprehensive research is needed.

Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infection after Hip Arthroplasty: A Multicentric Study

The objective of this study is to answer three main questions: What is the risk of wound infection for patients undergoing hip arthroplasty? What are the main etiologicagents of surgical site infection (SSI)? What are the risk factors most associated with surgical site infection? Method: This was a multicentric, retrospective cohort study which analyzed data collected in five general hospitals in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, between the period of January 2009 and December 2013. The continuous parameters studied were age, length of hospital stay before surgery, duration of surgery, number of professionals at surgery and number of hospital admissions. Categorical variables were surgical wound classification (clean, clean contaminated, contaminated, dirty/infected), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score (I, II, III, IV, V), type of surgery (elective, emergency), general anesthesia (yes, no), prophylactic antibiotic (yes, no), trauma surgery (yes, no) and Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) risk index (IRIC = 0, 1, 2, 3). Results: Estimated SSI risk was 3.2% (95% C.I. = 2.6% to 4.1%) and risk of osteomyelitis was 0.6% (95% C.I. = 0.4% to 1.1%). ASA score > 2, general anesthesia, length of hospital stay before surgery higher than four days, more than two professionals at surgical field and duration of surgery higher than five hours were risk factors for SSI after hip prosthesis (p < 0.05). The final multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the modified NNIS risk was independently associated with surgical site infection after arthroplasty of hip. Conclusion: Despite the modified NNIS index being a risk factor for SSI, none of its independent variables was statistically significantly in the logistic model (p > 0.100). Each modified NNIS risk category increased the chance of a patient being infected by almost three times, when compared with the previous category (OR = 2.82;p = 0.011).

Research progress in the targeted monitoring of surgical site infections

Surgical treatment can decrease the pain burden of patients, as well as improve their quality of life and social satisfaction. However, postoperative infection and other complications may harm patients and may even cause surgical failure and death. This review describes the definition, classification, and status of surgical site infection(SSI). In addition, this review provides an analysis of the relevant risk factors that result in SSI, and proposes the corresponding preventative and control measures for each different risk factor.

Incisional Negative Pressure Wound Therapy in the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection after Vascular Surgery with Inguinal Incisions: Rationale and Design of a Randomized Controlled Trial (INVIPS-Trial)

Background/Aims: Inguinal incisions are a common route of access in vascular surgery. Due to anatomical challenges and a diverse bacterial flora in this area, surgical site infections (SSI) represent a common, debilitating and sometimes life-threatening complication. The INVIPS-Trial evaluates the role of Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) on closed inguinal incisions in elective vascular surgery to prevent SSI and other wound complications. Methods: This randomized controlled trial (RCT) registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT01913132) compares the effects of a NPWT dressing (PICO, Smith & Nephew, UK) and the center’s standard wound dressing (Vitri Pad, ViTri Medical, Sweden) on postoperative wound complications, especially SSI. The study includes two distinct vascular procedures with different SSI risk profiles: endovascular aortic repair (EVAR) and open surgical approaches involving the common femoral artery (OPEN). Results: Four hundred ninety-five groin incisions in both treatment arms are anticipated to be included in the EVAR group and 147 inguinal incisions in both treatment arms in the OPEN group. Since a large percentage of inguinal vascular procedures in both groups but especially in the EVAR group are performed bilaterally, many patients can serve as their own control by randomly receiving NPWT on one and the standard dressing on the contralateral inguinal incision. Conclusions: This ongoing RCT attempts to elucidate the potential benefit of NPWT on closed inguinal incisions after different vascular procedures. Outcome and conclusions of this trial could have implications on postoperative wound care of patients in both vascular surgery and other surgical specialties.