Study: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Programs Can Reduce HAIs and Length of Stay

The adoption of an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program and fast track surgery (FTS) protocols are associated with significant reductions in healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), according to a meta-analysis published in the January 2017 Annals of Surgery. ERAS programs evolved from FTS principles, the authors said, and focus on engaging patients and families while ensuring uniform, evidence-based care. The basic tenets of an ERAS program include "minimizing surgical stress, optimizing patients before surgery, and restoring normal physiology as quickly as possible after surgery." Throughout the process there should be evaluations about where ERAS/FTS compliance is being met and whether it is facilitating teamwork and communication among clinicians. To determine whether ERAS/FTS processes could reduce HAIs, the authors conducted a review of 36 studies involving either ERAS or FTS for abdominal or pelvic surgery.