Preventing surgical site infections: CDC Guidelines 2017

The human and financial costs of treating surgical site infections (SSIs) are increasing. In a country like India, lack of adequate infrastructure and protocol put millions of patients at risk of hospital-associated infections and spread of drugs resistant bacteria. According to a recent study published in BMJ, surgical site infection account for 10.5% of the total infections that are acquired in a hospital

In August 2017 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, United States has published the Guidelines for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 2017. Following are its major recommendations

Strongly recommended [Category I guidelines with high to moderate quality of evidence supported by appropriate clinical trials]

• The patient has to be administered a preoperative antimicrobial agent at a scheduled time such that the possibility of infection is minimized at the surgical site.


• Before cesarean deliveries, an appropriate antimicrobial agent should be applied on the skin before the skin incision.


• Perioperative glycemic levels: The blood glucose levels should be less than 200mg/DL and maintained so before and during the surgery for both diabetic and non-diabetic patients.


• Patient undergoing surgery should be suggested to take a shower or bath a night before surgery with soap (antimicrobial or nonantimicrobial) or an antiseptic.


• Alcohol-based antiseptic should be used to prepare the skin before surgery unless it is contraindicated.

Weakly recommended [Category II guidelines with evidence from the clinical trials that could not conclude the benefits or harm of the precaution involved]

• Autologous platelet-rich plasma application


• Use of triclosan-coated sutures


• Application of microbial sealant during skin preparation for surgery


• Usage of aqueous idophor solution in contaminated abdominal procedures

No recommendations [Category of unresolved issues which have a low to very low quality of evidence ]

• Re-dose of parenteral prophylactic antimicrobial agent during the surgery


• Soaking the prosthetic devices used for implantation in antimicrobial agents


• Applying antimicrobial dressing in the operating room to the primary closure after surgical incision


• Optimal range of hemoglobin required in patients with or without diabetes


• Mode of delivery, timing or duration of medication to optimize the blood glucose levels


• Administering increased fraction of inspired oxygen through a face mask for patients with normal pulmonary function


• Duration of shower or the number of antiseptic applications to be used or use of chlorhexidine gluconate washed clothes for the prevention of SSI

With these new guidelines set for the postoperative care, the quality of the patient care can be improved which ultimately help save many lives. These guidelines are not only going to help the healthcare professionals but also researchers and organisations to come up with better and improvised versions for a better healthcare delivery.

• Guidelines falling under the unresolved issues category can be focused and appropriate clinical trials can be designed to conclude their results.

References

1. Sandra I. Berríos-Torres, MD; Craig A. Umscheid, MD, MSCE et al., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guideline for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, 2017 JAMA Surg.


2. Brian Zimmerman, CDC issues new prevention guidelines for surgical site infections: 5 things to know. Beker's Infection control & clinical quality, 2017


3. Pamela A. Lipsett, MD, Surgical site infection prevention- What we know and what we do not know, JAMA Surg. 2017

You can read the full Article by clicking on link :

http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery/fullarticle/2623725