Surgical prophylaxis - reducing surgical site infections

Surgical prophylaxis – reducing surgical site infections

Surgical site infections have been shown to compose up to 20% of all health-care-associated infections. At least 5% of patients undergoing a surgical procedure develop a surgical site infection; surgical site infections can double the length of time a patient stays in hospital and thereby increase the costs of healthcare by up to £7000. If the timing of your first dose of antimicrobial surgical prophylaxis is right then the likelihood of acquiring a surgical site infection is markedly reduced. Giving the first dose of antibacterial surgical prophylaxis within 60 minutes prior to incision reduces surgical site infections to a minimum.