5 8 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8
F
irst, some
good news.
Superbug
infections
are slowing
down somewhat. The
Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention
reported last month that
patients' risk of acquiring
healthcare-associated
infections (HAIs) caused
by superbug strains of
Clostridium difficile or
Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA) dropped by 16%
between 2011 and 2015, as
well as a 6% decrease in
surgical site infections
(SSIs).
Now, a dose of reality.
The American College of
Surgeons says SSIs are
still the most common cause of HAIs and cost the healthcare system
an estimated $10 billion to treat each year. More importantly, patients
Maureen Spencer, MEd, BSN, RN, CIC, FAPIC | Boston, Mass.
6 Ways to Stamp Out Superbugs
Healthcare-associated infections are on the decline,
but antibiotic-resistant bacteria remain a constant threat.
• TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING Be sure to discontinue antibiotic prophylaxis
within 24 hours of surgery to avoid the antibiotic overuse that has led to the
proliferation of superbugs.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
