Good, progressive SSI pathways have helped protect patients and reduce the risk of SSIs. Rachel Harding offers an insight into the implementation of an effective protocol for skin preparation, which has helped improve patient outcomes.
Good, progressive surgical site infection pathways at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT) have helped protect patients and reduce the risk of SSIs. Rachel Harding offers an insight into the implementation of an effective protocol for skin preparation, which has helped improve patient outcomes.
Surgical site infections (SSIs) have devastating outcomes for patients, families and organisations. An SSI may be superficial, involving the skin, or more serious involving tissues under the skin, organs, or implanted material. Not only can SSIs delay patients’ recovery and a natural return to normal activities, they can result in serious long-term complications. Corrective surgery may be needed in an attempt to remove the source of infection.
Every SSI is an additional use of NHS resources, and increases the discomfort of the patient. It reduces the quality and safety of patient care (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence [NICE] 2014). The additional time patients spend in the hospital due to an SSI varies from three to 54 days, depending on the surgical specialty and procedure. In some cases, the infection is so debilitating, a patient may never be able to return to work.
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