Background
Staphylococcal decolonization decreases the risk of Staphylococcus aureus surgical site infection. This study evaluates patient perceptions and barriers to
a universal Staphylococcal decolonization (USD) protocol.
Methods
In October 2013, a protocol for the decolonization of Staphylococcal aureus in elective orthopedic, neurosurgical, and cardiac surgeries was implemented in an
effort to further decrease post-operative infections rates. We surveyed patients undergoing
these procedures between November 2014 and April 2015 using an anonymous, voluntary,
Likert-scale survey; survey questions targeted compliance with the protocol as well
as barriers to protocol completion.
Results
A sample of 546 patients (n=1289, 42%) undergoing elective neurosurgical and orthopedic
surgeries completed surveys. Respondents had 85% compliance with USD. Insufficient
time prior to the procedure to complete the protocol was the largest barrier to USD
completion.
Conclusions
This study provides evidence that USD is acceptable to patients, and that the biggest
barriers are logistical.
Key Words
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to American Journal of Infection ControlAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Has decolonization played a central role in the decline in UK methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus transmission? A focus on evidence from intensive care.J Antimicrob Chemother. 2011; 66: ii41-ii47
- The impact of surgical-site infections following orthopedic surgery at a community hospital and a university hospital: adverse quality of life, excess length of stay, and extra cost.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2002; 23: 183-189
- Superficial and deep sternal wound complications: incidence, risk factors and mortality.Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2001; 20: 1168-1175
- Mupirocin ointment for preventing Staphylococcus aureus infections in nasal carriers.Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008; 4 (CD006216)
- A randomized trial of admission screening and decolonization of Staphylococcus aureus carriers to prevent nosocomial Saureus infections.in: Paper presented at: 48th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy/46th Annual Meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. October 26, 2008 (Washington, DC)
- Preoperative screening/decolonization for Staphylococcus aureus to prevent orthopedic surgical site infection: prospective cohort study with 2-year follow-up.J Arthroplasty. 2011; 26: 1501-1507
- Association of a bundled intervention with surgical site infections among patients undergoing cardiac, hip, or knee surgery.JAMA. 2015; 313: 2162-2171
- Preventing surgical-site infections in nasal carriers of Staphylococcus aureus.New Engl J Med. 2010; 362: 9-17
- Impact of combined low-level mupirocin and genotypic chlorhexidine resistanceon persistent methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carriage after decolonization therapy: a case-control study.Clin Infect Dis. 2011; 52: 1422-1430
Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 11, 2018
Footnotes
Conflicts of interest: None to report.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
