Preventing Surgical Site Infections in Healthcare Facilities

Even with current methods of infection prevention, antibiotic-resistant organisms continue to be a very real threat.

Current Methods of Preventing Surgical Site Infections

According to Safer Healthcare Now's targeted interventions to prevent surgical site infections, the four components to reducing surgical site infections are:

Appropriate use of systemic prophylactic antibiotics
Appropriate methods of hair removal
Maintenance of glucose levels following surgery (for major cardiac surgery)
Maintaining patient body temperature at normal levels before, during and after surgery (for colorectal and open abdominal surgery)

Each of these methods has been proven to be effective against surgical site infections in clinical studies.

However, the use of systemic prophylactic antibiotics has been associated with an increased incidence of antibiotic-resistant organisms, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Clostridium difficile–associated disease (CDAD).

In addition, particularly in high-risk patients (such as people with diabetes and obesity, and the elderly), poor vascularization can limit the delivery of systemic antibiotics to the site of risk.

Further, doses of systemic antibiotics necessary to overcome resistant strains of bacteria at the surgical site can often be toxic to certain organs.

A local, adjunctive approach to systemic antibiotics is now available.

Breakthrough Development in Treating and Preventing Surgical Site Infections

Many hospitals now follow standardized protocols for antibiotic dosing, glucose monitoring, hair removal and normothermia maintenance.

In order to enhance current systemic antibiotic therapies, Health Canada has now approved the adjunctive use of Collatamp G—a technology that has been used to great effect across Europe and throughout the world.

Collatamp G has been shown to reduce surgical site infections by 50-85%, reducing overall healthcare spending and increasing patient safety.

Collatamp G is a clinically proven anti-infective surgical "sponge" constructed of a fully resorbable collagen matrix impregnated with a high dose of the broad-spectrum antibiotic gentamicin.

Collatamp G delivers a high dose of fast-release gentamicin directly to the target site of infection risk, providing predictable, high concentrations of antibiotic only where needed, when needed, with no systemic effect.

Collatamp G represents a paradigm shift in antibiotic prophylaxis from a "shotgun" to a "laser-sighted" approach. Furthermore, the collagen in Collatamp G provides excellent hemostasis and accelerated wound healing.

Follow the link to learn more about Collatamp G—a breakthrough medical device for preventing and treating surgical site infections.

About Surgical Site Infections