The Infection Control Today® operating room page provides news articles and videos on the intersection between surgery and infection prevention. The operating room is a prime breeding ground for harmful pathogens to spread, resulting in surgical site infections. The role of the infection preventionist, together with the perioperative nursing staff, is to craft policies and processes to cut down on these infections and ensure patient safety during surgical procedures.
February 5th 2025
Nonventilator hospital-acquired pneumonia (NV-HAP) is a deadly, overlooked infection impacting patient outcomes. With new diagnostic tools and prevention strategies, hospitals must prioritize oral hygiene to reduce risk.
Wound Dressing with Ionic Silver Kills Early to Prevent the Spread of Infection
January 3rd 2012"Superbug" bacteria are an ever-increasing threat to public health and are among the most difficult to treat. Many have built up a resistance to at least one type of antibiotic and often have the ability to spread readily throughout the environment. These traits contribute to the increasing number of patients that acquire superbugs. In just one example, a recent study showed the number of people diagnosed with community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) rose from 24 cases per 100,000 people in 2000 to 164 per 100,000 in 2005.
The Benefits of a Multi-Disciplinary Approach to the Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers
August 11th 2011Pressure ulcers have become more prevalent in hospitals and nursing homes in the last decade, even though preventative protocols backed by clinical research have been shown to be effective. Pressure ulcers, also known as decubitus ulcers, are skin lesions associated with pressure, moisture, and other factors. They can affect any area of skin and are especially common on the sacral area, greater trochanter, heels and other areas with bony prominences. Without adequate blood flow, the affected tissue dies. If not properly treated these ulcers can evolve into deep wounds that go down to the bone and lead to serious and potentially life-threatening infections.
Sustainability Solutions That Work: How to Achieve Optimal Reprocessing Results
August 9th 2011Theres no question the healthcare industry is at a critical juncture. The pressure on healthcare providers to offer value without sacrificing quality has never been greater. But for change to happen, the responsibility to find innovative solutions to reduce costs and increase quality care must be shared equally by all stakeholders, including hospital executives, staff members and suppliers. With reform imminent and budgetary pressures mounting, the time for action is now. Its no longer enough for hospitals to implement short-term solutions such as staff or service cutbacks. To reduce healthcare costs without compromising the delivery of care, hospitals must devise and execute long-term, fully integrated sustainability solutions.
Addressing OR Challenges Through Smart Instrument Purchasing
June 21st 2011Hospital operating rooms (ORs) and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) must confront more than their fair share of challenges in the current healthcare environment. Many facilities are working with limited capital and non-capital budgets; facilities have cut back on spending. Volumes of surgical procedures have been reduced as a notable percentage of people are unexpectedly without insurance due to job losses. Those patients are procrastinating on surgical procedures while they search for new employment.