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Simple, Cost-Effective Way to Reduce Surgical Site Infection

Simple, Cost-Effective Way to Reduce Surgical Site Infection

by Dr. Trupti Shirole on Nov 2 2022 12:40 PM
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Highlights:
  • Surgical site infection is the most common postoperative complication
  • One in eight surgical site infection cases can be prevented by consistently changing gloves and surgical instruments during wound closures
The most common postoperative complication in the world, surgical site infection (SSI), might be decreased, according to research, by consistently changing gloves and equipment right before closing wounds.

How Common are Surgical Infections

Patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) suffer from wound infections more frequently than patients in other countries. After testing the technique in Benin, Ghana, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa, researchers discovered that routinely switching gloves and instruments during abdominal wound closures could prevent as many as one in eight surgical site infection cases.

Researchers are urging the procedure to be broadly adopted, particularly in LMICs. Co-author Mr. Aneel Bhangu, from the University of Birmingham, commented, “Surgical site infection is the world’s most common postoperative complication- a major burden for both patients and health systems. Our work demonstrates that routine change of gloves and instruments is not only deliverable around the world, but also reduced infections in a range of surgical settings. Taking this simple step could reduce SSIs by 13%- simply and cost-effectively.”

Effects of Surgical Site Infections

Pain, incapacity, poor wound healing with a risk of wound disintegration, extended recovery times, and psychological difficulties are all experienced by patients who acquire surgical site infections. It can be disastrous in healthcare systems where patients must pay for their care, increasing the likelihood that they become impoverished after receiving treatment. Surgeons in any hospital can perform the straightforward and inexpensive practice of changing their gloves and tools immediately before closing the incision, which has a significant potential impact.

Source-Medindia


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