Wound, bone and joint infection Flashcards
How common are surgical site infections?
15.7% of HAIs are SSIs
What are the major pathogens in SSIs?
•Staph.aureus (MSSA and MRSA)•E.coli•Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Describe the pathogenesis of SSIs.
- Contamination of wound at operation•Pathogenicity and innoculum of microorganisms•Host immune response
- If surgical site is contaminated with
> 10 5 microorganisms per gram of tissue, risk of SSI is increased.
•The dose of contaminating bacteria required to cause infection is much lower if there is foreign material present e.g silk suture
What are the 3 levels of SSIs?
- Superficial incisional- affect skin and subcutaneous tissue•
- Deep incisional- affect fascial and muscle layers•
- Organ/space infection- any part of anatomy other than incision
- Admitted in February 2012, with a subarachnoid and subdural haemorrhage after a fall. Decompressivecraniectomy
- April 2012. Cranioplasty with titanium plate.•
- October 2012. Admitted with large subdural collection with midline shift
- 16.10.12 Abscess evacuation. Titanium plates removed. Underneath there was severe infection with 1-1.5cm thick pus.
What is the most likely causative organism?
MRSA - Gram +ve cocci
How is SSI prevention classified?
•Pre-operative phase:
- Age
- Remote illnesses
- Underlying illness
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Pre-op shower
- Hair removal
- Nasal decontamination
- Antibiotic Prophylaxis
•Intra-operative phase•
- Management of infected personnel
- Theatre traffic
- Ventilation
- Sterilisation of surgical instruments
- Skin preparation
- Asepsis and surgical technique
- Normothermia
- Oxygenation
•Post-operative phase
What is the effect of age on SSI?
- An independent risk factor
- A direct linear trend of increasing risk until 65 years of age
- A prospective study examining patient undergoing total hip replacement. Age over 75 was found to be a significant risk factor
What are the underlying illnesses affecting SSIs?
What is the role of Obesity in SSIs?
- Adipose tissue is poorly vascularised. Poor oxygenation of tissues and functioning of the immune response increases the risk of SSIs•
- Risk increased by 2 to 7 in patients with a BMI of 35 or more
What is the role of smoking in SSIs?
•Smoking duration and number of cigarettes smoked•Nicotine delays primary wound healing•Peripheral vascular disease•Vasocontrictive effect of reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of blood•Encourage tobacco cessation
What is the role of pre-op showering in SSIs?
•Microorganisms colonising the skin may contaminate exposed tissues and cause an SSI••There is no difference in SSI incidence when chlorhexidine or detergent/bar soap is used••Patients should be advised to shower or bath using soap or on the day of surgery or the day before
What is the role of shaving in SSIs?
- Micro-abrasions caused by shaving with a razor may lead to multiplication of bacteria•
- Use electric clippers on the day of surgery with single-use head
- Hair should not be removed unless it will interfere with the operation
What is the role of nasal decontamination in SSIs?
- S.aureus is carried in the nares of 20-30%•
- A multivariate analysis demonstrated that S.aureuscarriage was the most powerful independent risk factor for SSI following cardiothoracic surgery
What is the role of antibiotic prophylaxis in SSIs?
•Antibiotic prophylaxis should be given at induction of anaesthesia•Bactericidal concentration of the drug should be established in serum and tissues at time of incision.•Additional doses may be necessary if there has been significant blood loss or if the operation has been prolonged
What is the role of management of infected surgical personnel?
•Encourage surgical personnel who have symptoms of a transmissible infection to report to occupational health.
What is the role of theatre traffic in SSIs?
•One person sheds 1 billion skin cells per day ; 10% carry bacteria•Microbial load in theatre is related to the number of people present•Theatre personnel should be kept to a minimum
What is the role of ventilation in SSIs?
•Maintain positive pressure ventilation•Maintain around 20 air changes per hour (of which at least 3must be fresh air)•Filter all air•Keep operating room doors closed•Consider laminar flow for orthopaedic implant surgery
What is the role of sterilisation of surgical instruments in SSIs?
•Sterilise all surgical instruments•Inadequate sterilisation of surgical instruments has resulted in SSI outbreaks
What is the role of skin preparation in SSIs?
•When skin is incised microorganisms may contaminate tissues and cause an SSI••Prepare skin at surgical site using antiseptic preparation: povidine-iodine or chlorhexidine.••Chlorhexidine in 70% alcohol is used
What is the role of asepsis and surgical technique is SSIs?
•Maintaining effective haemostasis while preserving adequate blood supply, gently handling tissues, avoiding inadvertent entries into hollow viscus, removing devitilised tissues and eradicating dead space.•Adhere to asepsis when placing intravascular devices or epidural catheters