Surgical Site Infections (SSIs)
UNMH's Goal is to reduce and eliminate surgical site infections associated with a surgical procedure performed in an ambulatory or in-patient setting.
In a majority of surgical procedures, the skin is cut to gain entry under the skin. The cut, known as an incision, breaks our body's first line of defense against infection. When there is a break in the body's defense, the risk for bacteria to enter the body and cause an infection increases. UNMH is dedicated to minimizing the risk of infection associated with surgical procedures. The following is a list of infection prevention measures that have been implemented and are monitored to ensure continuous improvement:
- Administering antibiotics specific to the surgical procedure within 1 hour of the incision
- Removal of hair at the surgical procedure site with a clipper when necessary
- Keeping the sugar level in the blood at a certain range in cardiac procedures
- Maintenance of body temperature for select procedures involving the large intestine/colon