A bundled intervention to decrease surgical site infections

Surgical site infections after cardiac operations or total joint arthroplasties are associated with severe outcomes, including important increases in hospital length of stay, readmission rates, healthcare costs, and mortality rates. Many such infections are thought to be preventable.

Scientists from the University of Iowa’s College of Public Health evaluated studies assessing the effectiveness of a bundle of nasal decolonization and glycopeptide prophylaxis for preventing surgical site infections caused by Gram positive bacteria among patients undergoing cardiac operations or total joint replacement procedures.

Read the full open-access research at: http://www.bmj.com/content/346/bmj.f2743