A team of researchers led by the University of Iowa reviewed 39 studies of SSI practices, and found three steps can reduce the SSI rate by 71 percent for staph bacteria and 59 percent for gram-positive bacteria. Here are the three components of the bundle to reduce post-surgical staph infections, according to the news release:
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• Swab patients’ noses for two strains of staph (Methicillin resistant S aureus and Methicillin susceptible S aureus) before surgery.
• For the 30 percent of patients who have staph naturally in their noses, apply an anti-bacterial nose ointment in the days before surgery.
• At surgery, give an antibiotic specifically for MRSA to patients who have the MRSA strain in their noses; for all others, give a more general antibiotic.
The results are published in the British Medical Journal.
More Articles on SSIs:
Patient Safety Tool: Joint Commission Guide to Reducing SSIs
Study: Full Contact Precautions as Effective Against MRSA as Gloves Alone
Patient Safety Tool: Glucose Control to Reduce SSIs Toolkit
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