Publication Title
Presented at Providence Holy Family, Spokane, Washington
Document Type
Presentation
Publication Date
2024
Keywords
washington; spokane; holy family
Abstract
Case Report: A Nurses Experience with a Surgical Site Infection (SSI); Lessons from the Frontlines
Objectives:
1. After reviewing this presentation participants will be able to understand the impacts an SSI can have on the life of an experienced nurse.
2. After reviewing this content participants will understand how interprofessional collaboration is key to supporting patients, reducing SSI’s, and raising awareness of this important topic.
Purpose/Aims: Postoperative wound infection is a common complication of orthopedic surgery & accounts for the highest proportion of all hospital-acquired infections, with an incidence rate of about 2.6%–7.83% (Zhu & Luo, 2023). These infections affect fracture healing, surgical outcomes, & can result in surgical failure, causing mental stress & economic burden (Zhu, & Luo, 2023). The purpose of this case report was to provide education related to the prevalence of SSI's, the devastating impacts it can have on the life of a patient & how acute care teams can utilize collaborative efforts to reduce SSI's. This team found SSIs are commonly seen at our hospital. Furthermore, this SSI occurred in a perioperative nurse who was highly experienced in knowledge and background regarding interventions to reduce the likelihood of experiencing an SSI herself. The authors found this case report much more impactful in providing education and awareness of a commonly seen problem with very high stakes, rather than a case report about something they might rarely see in practice or have any ability to impact.
Methods/Approach:
• Interprofessional team meetings with orthopedic surgeon -physician sponsor, senior infection preventionist, OR nurses, leadership, & surgical technologists
• Thorough chart review conducted
• In-person interview Results/Outcomes:
• 62 y/o female underwent primary left hip arthroplasty, 3 weeks later developed a SSI
• Aspiration, ED sepsis alert, inpatient re-hospitalization, blood transfusion, PICC placement
• Two additional unscheduled operations, including antibiotic spacer and final operation for new implants
• Two-year overall recovery; Six weeks of home IV antibiotic infusion therapy, followed by one year of oral antibiotic therapy
• Mental health recovery related to extensive healthcare needs provided by spouse Conclusions/Implications:
• Communicate to reduce OR room traffic
• Improve compliance with perioperative infection best practices
• Implement OR nursing interventions that support communication and promotion of disinfection standards & examine existing procedures
• Support interprofessional collaboration via professional governance structures, such unit-base councils
• Advocate for appropriate pain management after infection & multiple same site surgeries
References
Zhu, D., & Luo, Q. (2023). Effectiveness of nursing intervention in the operating room to prevent wound infections in patients undergoing orthopaedic surgery: A meta‐analysis. International Wound Journal, 20(10), 4103–4111. https://doi.org/10.1111/iwj.14304
Specialty/Research Institute
Infectious Diseases
Specialty/Research Institute
Surgery
Specialty/Research Institute
Nursing
Previous Versions
Included in
Infectious Disease Commons, Perioperative, Operating Room and Surgical Nursing Commons, Surgery Commons
