Better Adherence to Proven Infection Control Protocols in Surgical Settings Prevents Postoperative Infections

Adherence to proven infection control protocols in the operating room and beyond could help to prevent the spread of a dangerous strain of Staphylococcus aureus known to contribute to postoperative infections, says a study from the October 2018 American Journal of Infection Control. Calling intraoperative adherence to evidence-based infection prevention protocols "abysmal," the study authors wanted to raise awareness about the transmission of the pathogenic S. aureus strain within the operating room environment. The researchers used genome analysis to map the transmission of the S. aureus strain from provider, patients, and the environment.