4 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
Surgical site infections increase patient morbidity and healthcare costs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasizes improved basic preventive measures to reduce bacterial transmission and infections for patients undergoing surgery. We conducted a previous study that showed our treatment bundle is highly effective. Our current study planned to examine patterns/rate of S. aureus transmission to improve feedback widespread implementation of the perioperative infection prevention program at Iowa. The purpose of this study is to assess the fidelity of the set of interventions in controlling perioperative S. aureus and to provide data feedback via surveillance involving epidemiology of transmission for system optimization.
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) occur frequently and are associated with patient harm. It is important that healthcare facilities take the necessary steps to prevent the spread of resistant bacteria. ESKAPE bacteria (Enterococcus, S. aureus, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Enterobacter spp.) are particularly pathogenic. Isolation of these pathogens from intraoperative reservoirs has been associated with postoperative infection development (i.e. surgical site infections). This project involves implementation of a software platform and bacterial collection system (OR PathTrac) that leverages the epidemiology of intraoperative bacterial transmission to guide dynamic, prospective improvements in perioperative infection control measures. We will assess the effectiveness of OR PathTrac feedback in optimizing an evidence-based, multifaceted, perioperative infection control program.
The first patient in the dyad will receive the bundle, which includes patient decolonization methods, environmental cleaning in the OR, a hand hygiene system located on the IV pole for the anesthesia provider, and intravascular catheter and syringe tip disinfection practices. The second patient in the dyad will receive usual care. Both patients will be surveyed by obtaining swab samples at the beginning and end of the surgery using the OR PathTrac kits. The OR PathTrac software (RDB Bioinformatics, Omaha, NE 68154) uses algorithms to guide analysis of the S. aureus isolates and to identify transmission events. Transmission stories are processed by the software to generate transmission maps that identify improvement successes and failures. It also identifies actionable steps to improve the bundle. The perioperative infection control team then uses this information to continually optimize the bundle, and the software to measure the effect.
The purpose of this study is to prevent the spread of S. aureus, a dangerous bacterium, within the operating room and between patients undergoing surgery.