Preventing Surgical Site Infections Pre and Post Operatively

Abstract

5,000,000 Surgical site infections (SSI) are reported yearly in the United States (Diaz&Newman, 2015). SSI led to higher mortality and morbidity rates, as well as a longer hospital stay. SSIs are highly preventable with appropriate intervention. SSI can cost up to $10 billion annually. Surgical site infections (SSIs) occur in approximately 2%–5% of patients who undergo clean extra-abdominal surgeries, such as thoracic and orthopedic surgery, and in up to 20% of patients who undergo intra-abdominal surgery interventions. The Institute for Healthcare Improvement reports that SSIs in the United States increase the length of hospital stay by anaverage of 7.5 days, at an estimated cost of $130 million to $845 million per year (Medscape,2016, pp.5).