Survey Reveals Gap between Evidence and Practice for Surgical Site Infection Prevention

August 22, 2012 | Strategic Insights for Health System

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Although more than three-quarters of survey respondents rated checklists, standardized orders, protocols, and formal surveillance programs most favorably, less than one-half of them said that such practices were in place in their organizations. This and other findings of a survey regarding surgical site infection prevention were published in the 2012 August Canadian Journal of Surgery. Researchers aimed to measure surgeons’ and surgical residents’ awareness and implementation of surgical site infection prevention strategies that had been proven in the literature. “Inconsistency in some areas between the perception of evidence and the rate of strategy use” was found, write the authors. While more than 90% of respondents believed evidence supported the use of antibiotic prophylaxis and used this strategy frequently, nearly 70% of respondents said they prescribe preoperative bowel preparation and fewer than 50% believe this practice to be supported by evidence.

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