S U R G I C A L
S K I N
S U R F A C E
A N T I S E P S I S
longer used at your facility. Hang copies at
EMRs or paper records when cases are
all the scrub sinks, in clear view of sur-
scheduled. Doing so alerts staff of the
geons and staff scrubbing in for proce-
optimal options and ensures prepping
dures. Take every opportunity to commu-
practices remain standardized and effec-
nicate with surgeons about their prepping
tive. Also know that skin prep manufac-
practices and talk up the agents you've put
turers are actively looking to change prod-
in place.
D I S I N F E C T I O N
ucts to combat the issue of resistant
organisms, so consistently review com-
3. Track the progress
mercially available preps to ensure your
Three months after standardizing prepping
SSI-reduction efforts remain current. OSM
products, our infection control department
reported a slightly lower SSI rate. Keep in
mind, though, that numerous practices
Ms. Butler (sb utler@stanfordmed.org) is a
clinical nurse IV and the chairperson of the
perioperative research council at Stanford
University Hospital and Clinics in Stanford,
Calif.
affect SSIs, and we can't necessarily attribute the drop solely to changes in prepping
agents. But there's no doubt that surgical
skin asepsis is an important part of effective SSI-reduction measures and played
WIPE OUT Do your staffers remember to disinfect the surfaces that are used so often they're
overlooked?
some part in the reduced infection rates.
Intermittently track your staff and surgeons' behavior to execute a truly suc-
Are Your Rooms Really Clean?
cessful process improvement program.
Validate staff's surface disinfection efforts to find out.
Amy Waugh | Morgantown, W.Va.
Conduct infection control compliance
audits for a variety of tasks that ensure
frontline practice match what's being
reflected in medical records. To reinforce
and normalize prepping behaviors, add
the preferred choice of agent to patients'
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SUPPLEMENT
TO
O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E | M AY 2013
D
ready to go, right? But you have no way of
o you enter a room that's been
knowing how effectively microbes have
turned over after a patient's dis-
been eliminated. Auditing how well your
charge or a case's conclusion and
rooms are actually getting cleaned would
determine if it's clean or dirty by sight? If
offer peace of mind that they're safe for
you don't see debris or fluid, the room is
M AY 2013 | S U P P L E M E N T
patients and surgery, validate environmenTO
O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E
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