5 Clinical Trials for Various Conditions
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.
Visible light at 405nm has been shown to be germicidal. The hypothesis is that use of this light (Indigo-Clean Lights) in operating rooms will reduce S. aureus transmission occurring within and between patients and reduce surgical site infections (SSIs). Investigators will evaluate a case-control study where patients undergoing surgery with the lights are matched with patients undergoing surgery without germicidal lights.
Operating room S. aureus exposure has been directly linked to postoperative infections and is therefore an important target for infection prevention. Visible light (non-ultraviolet spectrum) at 405nm has been shown to be germicidal. We hypothesize that use of this light in operating rooms will reduce S. aureus transmission occurring within and between patients and reduce surgical site infections (SSIs). Visible light is safe for routine, continual exposure, and is less harmful than sunlight. We plan to install ambient, germicidal lighting in 4 operating rooms. This ambient light is not directly applied to patients (does not involve the surgical procedure lights). Patients will undergo surgery according to usual practice. We will conduct a case-control study where operating rooms with surgeries with the lights are matched to operating rooms with surgeries without lights. In Aim 1, 4 OR-pairs will be observed each day over an anticipated 103 working days for the primary outcome of S. aureus transmission events over a total minimum study period of 5.2 months (103 working days).