Surgical Site Infection
Surgical Site Infection
In the United States surgical site infections is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in hospital acquired infections. Surgical site infections are just one type of hospital acquired infections (HAIs) but I believe they are one of the most preventable. A surgical site infection is an infection of a wound that occurs after an invasive surgical procedure. It can take days before the patient even shows signs or symptoms of an infection. “Infection develops when the number and activity of bacteria in the wound overwhelm the patient’s immune system, resulting in tissue breakdown and delayed healing” (Gould, D. 2012). This paper will begin by describing exactly what surgical site infections are and the different types. It will also describe why it is considered preventable. While it is not possible to prevent all surgical site infections it is possible to reduce them by at least sixty percent. Next this paper will discuss some of the legal implications related to surgical site infections. There are millions of dollars that are being awarded to patients in lawsuits because of preventable SSIs. The Center for Disease Control has guidelines that healthcare organizations must follow to help reduce the risk of SSIs; and it when these guidelines are found not to be followed that patients are wining lawsuits against healthcare professionals and organizations. A breakdown in communication can be a cause of so many surgical site infections. The breakdown can occur between medical staff or between the staff and patients. This paper will explain some ways that improved communications could assit in reducing surgical site infections. Then this paper will explore the accreditation expectations related to surgical site infections. “The Joint Commission accredits 82% of the hospitals in the United States” (Sollecito & Johnson, 2013, p. 516). It will explain what expectations the Joint Commission have in regards to surgical site
In the United States surgical site infections is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in hospital acquired infections. Surgical site infections are just one type of hospital acquired infections (HAIs) but I believe they are one of the most preventable. A surgical site infection is an infection of a wound that occurs after an invasive surgical procedure. It can take days before the patient even shows signs or symptoms of an infection. “Infection develops when the number and activity of bacteria in the wound overwhelm the patient’s immune system, resulting in tissue breakdown and delayed healing” (Gould, D. 2012). This paper will begin by describing exactly what surgical site infections are and the different types. It will also describe why it is considered preventable. While it is not possible to prevent all surgical site infections it is possible to reduce them by at least sixty percent. Next this paper will discuss some of the legal implications related to surgical site infections. There are millions of dollars that are being awarded to patients in lawsuits because of preventable SSIs. The Center for Disease Control has guidelines that healthcare organizations must follow to help reduce the risk of SSIs; and it when these guidelines are found not to be followed that patients are wining lawsuits against healthcare professionals and organizations. A breakdown in communication can be a cause of so many surgical site infections. The breakdown can occur between medical staff or between the staff and patients. This paper will explain some ways that improved communications could assit in reducing surgical site infections. Then this paper will explore the accreditation expectations related to surgical site infections. “The Joint Commission accredits 82% of the hospitals in the United States” (Sollecito & Johnson, 2013, p. 516). It will explain what expectations the Joint Commission have in regards to surgical site