Nursing advocacy, evidence-based practices reduce surgical site infection rates

Nursing advocacy and updated evidence-based practices resulted in significant reductions in infection rates among patients receiving colon and abdominal surgeries, according to a quality improvement project presented at the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses. The project evaluated how adopting updated evidence-based practice guidelines and improving interdisciplinary communication reduced surgical site infections among an estimated 400 colorectal and 250 hysterectomy cases. After implementing the strategies, the standardized infection ratio fell to 0.335 from 0.850 for colon surgeries and to 1.110 for hysterectomies from 1.800. (Infection Control Today article, 2/12/26)