Surgical Site Infections: Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies
Main Article Content
Abstract
SSIs are a huge problem in the field of healthcare since they present negative influences on patient status, elevate morbidity and add to the costs incurred in the course of handling patients. SSIs are infections that occur within 30 days of the operation, and may stem from the patient’s skin, air, equipment or procedure. SSIs not only increase length of hospital stay but they also often result in possible complications including sepsis, which if develops is a fatal condition. Many factors predispose patients to SSIs comprising patient characteristics and procedure-related factors. Non-modifiable J patient-specific factors include age, nutritional status, concurrent diseases including diabetes and obesity, as well as the presence of immunosuppressed status. These factors still hinder the growth of tissues in the wound area and also enhance vulnerability to infections. While on the other hand the procedural factors include the kind of surgery done, length of the procedure and the degree of cleanliness of the operating theater. For example, longer operations mean increased infection risk for tissues and potentially contamination as well. Measures that may help to reduce the risk of SSIs are important for their prevention and promotion of patient safety. Measures are performed namely, sterilization of instruments and tools, skin cleaning before the operation with special antiseptics and the use of antibiotics only as preventive measures, maintenance of normothermia during surgery. However, even increased levels of education in infection control among the health care staff and patient engagement can enhance goals aimed at preventing SSIs. Some of these risk factors include obesity, poor lifestyle choices, uncontrolled diabetes among other factors, failure to practice the major prevention steps which includes proper antiseptic washing of the operation site, use of effective anti bacterial drapes, and use of prophylactic antibiotics when required among other practices ensures reduction of SSIs thus improving the quality of surgical care to the patients.