Surgical site infection The Perioperative Warming Quality
Improvement Resource summarises the evidence for temperature monitoring, pre, intra and post-operative warming, plus intravenous and irrigation fluids, with the aim of reducing the risk of hypothermia throughout the surgical pathway. Hypothermia is defined as a core body temperature of less than 36.0°C. The resource covers topics such as temperature monitoring, how patients should be warmed, the technologies available and a competency checklist. The Surgical Environment Quality Improvement
Resource explains why managing the surgical environment is important to prevent SSI and covers the importance of theatre cleanliness. This means ensuring that surfaces and equipment are kept as clean as possible, and decontaminated appropriately. It also considers theatre staff discipline, highlighting the need for staff to wear appropriate theatre clothing, using aseptic procedures and avoiding movement in and out of the operating room during an operation. Lindsay said that theatre staff ettiquette, in particular, is an area that requires improvement in some organisations, especially around the number of people that are present in theatres. Other key aspects include theatre ventilation, ensuring that a constant supply of filtered air is delivered to the theatre suite. The Surgical Skin Preparation Quality
Improvement Resource summarises the evidence for patient washing, hair removal, skin disinfection and the use of incise drapes. In terms of skin preparation, the resource highlights the NICE guidance, which states that “an alcohol-based solution of chlorhexidine is the first choice, unless contraindicated or the surgical site is next to a mucous membrane.” Lindsay also highlighted the importance of checking for patient allergies when choosing an
appropriate skin preparation solution. The Maintaining Asepsis Quality Improvement
Resource looks at when and where to apply aseptic technique; how to achieve hand antisepsis; the need for appropriate face protection; aseptic gowning, gloving and draping technique; as well as instrument management. The conference also raised awareness
of the latest Incision Management, Quality Improvement Resource, which covers the different stages of wound healing, types of wound closure, post-operatve management of the surgical site, types of dressings, and guidance on recognising wound infection. Lindsay pointed out that “every person within the multidisciplinary team, at every stage of the surgical pathway, has the potential to inflict or start an SSI.” Therefore, it is vital to think about every part of our practice. “We all have accountability and a part to play, which is why we need educational resources like these to
Enter the OneTogether awards! reducing the risk of SSIs
Kate Woodhead, technical editor at CSJ, also invited delegates attending the event to enter OneTogether’s annual awards programme. The Awards have been designed to recognise, celebrate, and share best practice in reducing the risk of SSIs. The Awards are also open to readers who
have undertaken steps to reduce the risk of SSIs Whether your actions are big or small, whether you’ve initiated improvements on your own or involved a wider team, OneTogether believes that all improvements are worthwhile. Open to all members of the surgical team, the Awards provide an opportunity to: l Be recognised for improving patient care and
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www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I May 2024
l Educate and inspire others to replicate your outstanding work
l Share your best practice across the wider community through OneTogether
Award criteria To enter the award, you should have implemented an initiative to improve care and reduce the risk of SSIs. This can be in your immediate area of care or across your organisation. Entries should highlight the challenges faced and the actions undertaken to improve care, alongside measurable results. The judging panel are interested in your actions
help us improve our practice and reduce the risk of SSIs,” Lindsay commented. She added that it is important to educate
and involve patients, not only in terms of understanding their role in preventing SSIs, but also how to recognise an infection; they need to be empowered. However, there is also a growing role for
technology in helping to monitor surgical wounds and to help identify infections in the community, after the patient has been discharged. In her final comments, she advised the audience: “Don’t be afraid to ask ‘why?’ because if we don’t know why, how can we change things and improve our practice?” “Use these resources,” she urged the audience. “They are free and accessible via the website.”
To view the full resources visit:
www.onetogether.org.uk/resources
CSJ
and how they impacted overall outcomes - if you have access to any data or metrics which support the reduction in SSI, please use this in your entry.
Winning entrants of the OneTogether Award
will receive an engraved trophy, certificates for all team members and the opportunity to have their work published, to help share best practice.
Entry Award entries close on 3 June 2024 (Midnight). To enter the OneTogether Awards simply complete the online entry form at:
https://tinyurl.com/2sk29phn
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