Protocols to Prevent SSIs and SSCs: Initiatives to Improve Outcomes

This executive dialogue will highlight key findings on:

• Continued fatigue from the COVID-19 pandemic presents an ongoing challenge for hospitals and health systems. Emphasis must be placed on adherence to handwashing and basic infection prevention techniques to prevent and manage SSIs and SSCs.
• Identifying risk factors for SSIs enables targeted education to prevent their occurrence. One solution is to implement a pre-surgical preparation clinic to work closely with high-risk patients in the weeks leading up to their procedure. 
• Data is a strong influencer and can significantly impact clinician behavior. Organizations should consider sharing individual performance data in advance of team meetings to facilitate a productive discussion.
• Additional guidelines are needed to identify when to delay surgery for patients at high-risk for infections.
• Gaps in patient education can result in post-discharge infections leading to readmissions. Organizations should reassess their patient education and develop easy to understand guidelines for wound care and conduct patient follow-up calls post-discharge.

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