Logo Image
|Slideshows|October 21, 2015

Slide Show: The Perioperative RN's Role in Antimicrobial Stewardship and Preventing SSI

This slide show, courtesy of AORN, outlines the critical role that perioperative RNs play in ensuring sound antimicrobial stewardship at every point throughout a patient’s surgical care and driving adherence to actions that can prevent surgical site infection. Antibiotic administration is part of daily practice in the perioperative setting and it is the perioperative RN who has the power to ensure safe use of antimicrobials-including antibiotics-whether provided as prophylaxis or to treat healthcare-acquired infections such as surgical site infections (SSIs). In fact, SSIs are the No. 1 reason for surgical readmissions. Resistance is making these deadly infections more and more difficult to treat, while also creating significant financial loss to hospitals in lost reimbursement.

Related to this article

View more
Water (Adobe Stock 456102510 by stockphoto-graf)
Where to Begin With ST108: Water Testing and Implementation Readiness
Understanding current water quality is a starting point for ST108 implementation. John Kimsey, vice president of processing optimization and customer success for STERISS, spoke about his HSPA presentation on assessing readiness, distinguishing system qualification from routine testing, and understanding where water samples should be collected.
Read more
Image of Pathogens flying (Adobe Stock weerasak)
How 3 Decades of SHEA Presidents Shaped the Science and Soul of Infection Prevention
Behind every landmark in infection prevention, from antimicrobial stewardship guidelines to the COVID-19 town halls that reached flight attendants and teachers, is a generation of physician-scientists who led SHEA through crises, organizational change, and scientific breakthroughs. Infection Control Today traces 30 years of SHEA presidents and the lasting mark they left on the field.
Read more
AORN26 New Orleans 2026 (Adobe Stock)
How Can OR and Sterile Processing Teams Improve Collaboration and Instrument Readiness?
Missing instruments and processing delays can strain OR–SPD relationships. At AORN 2026, John Kimsey, vice president of processing optimization and customer success for STERIS, discusses understanding root causes, exploring off-site reprocessing for ambulatory surgical centers, and using hands-on simulation to help surgical teams see sterile processing from a different perspective.
Read more
A brightly lit Hospital operating room, a surgical team wearing gowns and masks. (Adobe Stock 1790696595 by Damian)
How Can OR Teams Improve Environmental Cleaning Between Surgical Cases?
Turnover pressure can leave critical OR cleaning steps unfinished. Karen deKay, MSN, RN, EBP-C, CNOR, CIC, FAPIC, examines common gaps in environmental hygiene and how shared responsibilities, attention to disinfectant contact time, and ongoing education can help teams strengthen practices between cases.
Read more