National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) report: data summary for 2006 through 2008, issued December 2009

Improving Risk-Adjusted Measures of Surgical Site Infection for the National Healthcare Safely Network

Background.

The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) has provided simple risk adjustment of surgical site infection (SSI) rates to participating hospitals to facilitate quality improvement activities; improved risk models were developed and evaluated.

Methods.

Data reported to the NHSN for all operative procedures performed from January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2008, were analyzed. Only SSIs related to the primary incision site were included. A common set of patient- and hospital-specific variables were evaluated as potential SSI risk factors by univariate analysis. Some ific variables were available for inclusion. Stepwise logistic regression was used to develop the specific risk models by procedure category. Bootstrap resampling was used to validate the models, and the c-index was used to compare the predictive power of new procedure-specific risk models with that of the models with the NHSN risk index as the only variable (NHSN risk index model).

Results.

From January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2008, 847 hospitals in 43 states reported a total of 849,659 procedures and 16,147 primary incisional SSIs (risk, 1.90%) among 39 operative procedure categories. Overall, the median c-index of the new procedure-specific risk was greater (0.67 [range, 0.59–0.85]) than the median c-index of the NHSN risk index models (0.60 [range, 0.51–0.77]); for 33 of 39 procedures, the new procedure-specific models yielded a higher c-index than did the NHSN risk index models.

Conclusions.

A set of new risk models developed using existing data elements collected through the NHSN improves predictive performance, compared with the traditional NHSN risk index stratification.

Healthcare-Associated Bloodstream Infections Secondary to a Urinary Focus The Québec Provincial Surveillance Results

Objective.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are an important source of secondary healthcare-associated bloodstream infections (BSIs), where a potential for prevention exists. This study describes the epidemiology of BSIs secondary to a urinary source (U-BSIs) in the province of Québec and predictors of mortality.

Design.

Dynamic cohort of 9,377,830 patient-days followed through a provincial voluntary surveillance program targeting all episodes of healthcare-associated BSIs occurring in acute care hospitals.

Setting.

Sixty-one hospitals in Québec, followed between April 1, 2007, and March 31, 2010.

Participants.

Patients admitted to participating hospitals for 48 hours or longer.

Methods.

Descriptive statistics were used to summarize characteristics of U-BSIs and microorganisms involved. Wilcoxon and X2 tests were used to compare U-BSI episodes with other BSIs. Negative binomial regression was used to identify hospital characteristics associated with higher rates. We explored determinants of mortality using logistic regression.

Results.

Of the 7,217 reported BSIs, 1,510 were U-BSIs (21%), with an annual rate of 1.4 U-BSIs per 10,000 patient-days. A urinary device was used in 71% of U-BSI episodes. Identified institutional risk factors were average length of stay, teaching status, and hospital size. Increasing hospital size was influential only in nonteaching hospitals. Age, nonhematogenous neoplasia, Staphylococcus aureus, and Foley catheters were associated with mortality at 30 days.

Conclusion.

U-BSI characteristics suggest that urinary catheters may remain in patients for ease of care or because practitioners forget to remove them. Ongoing surveillance will enable hospitals to monitor trends in U-BSIs and impacts of process surveillance that will be implemented shortly.

A 4-year prospective study to determine the incidence and microbial etiology of surgical site infections at a private tertiary care hospital in Mumbai, India

BACKGROUND

There is limited single-center data on the incidence and microbial etiology of surgical site infections (SSIs) from developing countries.

METHODS

This is a prospective observational study over 4-year period (April 2009-March 2013) at a 750-bed private multispecialty hospital in Mumbai, India, among patients undergoing clean and clean-contaminated surgeries. Standard guidelines for preventing, classifying, and diagnosing SSI were followed.

RESULTS

A total of 24,355 patients underwent clean and clean-contaminated surgeries during the study period. The overall SSI rate was 1.6% (389 cases). The SSI rate in clean surgeries was 1.57%, and the SSI rate in clean-contaminated surgeries was 1.64%. Of the SSIs, 66% were caused by gram-negative bacilli (GNB) (Escherichia coli [22.9%], Klebsiella [18.2%], Pseudomonas [12.7%], and Acinetobacter [6.0%] were the top 4), 31.7% were caused by gram-positive bacilli (Staphylococcus: 70.5%, Enterococcus: 23.8%, Streptococcus: 1.8%), and 2.1% were caused by Candida. A total of 64% of the E coli and Klebsiella isolates were extended spectrum β-lactamase producing, 6% of the GNB were carbapenem resistant, and only 17.3% of S aureus isolates were methicillin resistant.

CONCLUSION

Although the SSI rate is comparable with established international benchmarks, increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in GNB is a matter of serious concern.

Simulation-based training for emergency medicine residents in sterile technique during central venous catheterization: impact on performance, policy, and outcomes

OBJECTIVES

Central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) is a preventable nosocomial infection. Simulation-based training in sterile technique during central venous catheter (CVC) placement for emergency medicine (EM) residents, and its effect on changing the medical intensive care unit (MICU) practice of routine replacement of CVCs placed under sterile technique in the emergency department (ED), has not been evaluated.

METHODS

Emergency medicine residents received simulation-based sterile technique training during CVC placement between May 2008 and September 2010. Between June 2008 and January 2011, the authors reviewed records of patients who had CVCs placed in the ED under sterile technique by EM residents and were admitted to the MICU (group 1) and CVCs placed in the MICU under sterile technique by internal medicine (IM) residents (group 2). IM residents completed similar simulation-based training before May 2008. Changes in EM residents' sterile technique performance scores were compared, as well as CLABSI rates in both groups. EM residents' CVC procedural skills were not assessed.

RESULTS

Seventy-six EM residents completed simulation-based training with significant improvement in performance (median scores 13 out of 24 before training, 24 out of 24 after training; p < 0.001). CLABSI rates per 1,000 catheter-days were 1.02 in group 1 and 1.02 in group 2 (p = 0.99). Both groups had similar demographics, acuity, and mortality (p > 0.5).

CONCLUSIONS

Routine replacement of CVCs placed in the ED under sterile technique after simulation-based training would appear to be unnecessary. These findings demonstrate patient-centered outcomes that are comparable for CVCs in ED-admitted MICU patients, regardless of whether the CVC was placed in the ED or MICU.

Surgical site infection rates in 16 cities in Turkey: findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC)

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a threat to patient safety; however, there were no available data on SSI rates stratified by surgical procedure (SP) in Turkey.

METHODS

Between January 2005 and December 2011, a cohort prospective surveillance study on SSIs was conducted by the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) in 20 hospitals in 16 Turkish cities. Data from hospitalized patients were registered using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) methods and definitions for SSIs. Surgical procedures (SPs) were classified into 22 types according to International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision criteria.

RESULTS

We recorded 1879 SSIs, associated with 41,563 SPs (4.3%; 95% confidence interval, 4.3-4.7). Among the results, the SSI rate per type of SP compared with rates reported by the INICC and CDC NHSN were 11.9% for ventricular shunt (vs 12.9% vs 5.6%); 5.3% for craniotomy (vs 4.4% vs 2.6%); 4.9% for coronary bypass with chest and donor incision (vs 4.5 vs 2.9); 3.5% for hip prosthesis (vs 2.6% vs 1.3%), and 3.0% for cesarean section (vs 0.7% vs 1.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

In most of the 22 types of SP analyzed, our SSI rates were higher than the CDC NHSN rates and similar to the INICC rates. This study advances the knowledge of SSI epidemiology in Turkey, allowing the implementation of targeted interventions.

Risk factors for surgical site infection following cesarean section in a Brazilian Women's Hospital: a case-control study

The present study evaluated patients with diagnosis of surgical site infection (SSI) following cesarean section and their controls to determinate risk factors and impact of antibiotic prophylaxis on this condition.

Methods

All cesareans performed from January 2009 to December 2012 were evaluated for SSI, based on criteria established by CDC/NHSN. Control patients were determined after inclusion of case patients. Medical records of case and control patients were reviewed and compared regarding sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.

Results

Our study demonstrated an association following univariate analysis between post-cesarean SSI and number of internal vaginal examinations, time of membrane rupture, emergency cesarean and improper use of antibiotic prophylaxis. This same situation did not repeat itself in multivariate analysis with adjustment for risk factors, especially with regard to antibiotic prophylaxis, considering the emergency cesarean factor only.

Conclusion

The authors of the present study not only question surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis use based on data presented here and in literature, but suggest that the prophylaxis is perhaps indicated primarily in selected groups of patients undergoing cesarean section. Further research with greater number of patients and evaluated risk factors are fundamental for better understanding of the causes and evolution of surgical site infection after cesarean delivery.

Medicare claims can be used to identify US hospitals with higher rates of surgical site infection following vascular surgery

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infections (SSIs) following vascular surgery have high morbidity and costs, and are increasingly tracked as hospital quality measures.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the ability of Medicare claims to identify US hospitals with high SSI rates after vascular surgery.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Using claims from fee-for-service Medicare enrollees of age 65 years and older who underwent vascular surgery from 2005 to 2008, we derived hospital rankings using previously validated codes suggestive of SSI, with individual-level adjustment for age, sex, and comorbidities. We then obtained medical records for validation of SSI from hospitals ranked in the best and worst deciles of performance, and used logistic regression to calculate the risk-adjusted odds of developing an SSI in worst-decile versus best-decile hospitals.

RESULTS

Among 203,023 Medicare patients who underwent vascular surgery at 2512 US hospitals, a patient undergoing surgery in a hospital ranked in the worst-performing decile based on claims had 2.5 times higher odds of developing a chart-confirmed SSI relative to a patient with the same age, sex, and comorbidities in a hospital ranked in the best-performing decile (95% confidence interval, 2.0-3.1). SSI confirmation among patients with claims suggesting infection was similar across deciles, and we found similar findings in analyses limited to deep and organ/space SSIs. We report on diagnosis codes with high sensitivity for identifying deep and organ/space SSI, with one-to-one mapping to ICD-10-CM codes.

CONCLUSIONS

Claims-based surveillance offers a standardized and objective methodology that can be used to improve SSI surveillance and to validate hospitals' publicly reported data.

Application of a modified microbiologic criterion for identifying pediatric ventilator-associated pneumonia

BACKGROUND

Prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a major patient safety goal, but accurate identification of VAP in pediatric patients remains challenging.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study to demonstrate feasibility of endotracheal culture and Gram's stain to support VAP diagnosis. Pediatric intensive care unit and cardiac intensive care unit patients with ≥ 1 endotracheal specimen having growth of ≥ 1 organism in conjunction with moderate/many polymorphonuclear leukocytes (ie, the modified microbiologic criterion) were included. Medical records were reviewed for presence/absence of clinical and radiographic Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria for VAP. Antimicrobial use data were collected before and after culture results were known.

RESULTS

Of 102 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 28% (n = 28) also met both clinical and radiographic CDC criteria for VAP (ie, diagnosis of PNU2). An additional 63% (n = 64) met clinical (36%; n = 37) or radiographic (27%; n = 27) criteria, but not both. Ten patients (9%) had neither clinical nor radiographic criteria for VAP. The majority (63%; n = 64) were receiving antibiotics at time of endotracheal specimen collection. Culture identification resulted in altered antimicrobial therapy in 66% of patients (n = 67).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates the feasibility of endotracheal Gram's stain and culture for diagnosis of pediatric VAP that could potentially standardize accurate surveillance and management of pediatric VAP.

Challenges in conducting research in pediatric long-term care facilities

BACKGROUND

Children residing in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) have complex medical problems and unique care needs, yet research in this setting is rare. As part of an intervention study to improve patient safety (Keep It Clean for Kids [KICK]), we describe the challenges encountered and recommend approaches to build a successful and sustained collaborative relationship between pediatric LTCFs and the research team.

METHODS

We implemented a program with 5 components: leadership commitment, active staff participation by the creation of KICK teams, workflow assessments, staff training in the World Health Organization's "5 Moments for Hand Hygiene," and electronic monitoring and feedback to staff regarding hand hygiene practices.

RESULTS

Major challenges encountered were establishing trust, building research teams, enhancing staff participation, and engaging families and visitors. Approaches to deal with these challenges are discussed.

CONCLUSIONS

Conducting research in pediatric LTCFs requires sustained commitment to dealing with challenges and establishing collaborative relationships with administrative and frontline staff.

Surgical site infection rates in 4 cities in Colombia: findings of the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC)

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a threat to patient safety. However, there are no available data on SSI rates stratified by surgical procedure (SP) in Colombia.

METHODS

From January 2008-December 2010, a prospective surveillance study on SSIs was conducted by the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) in 4 hospitals in 4 cities within Colombia using the definitions of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-National Healthcare Safety Network (CDC-NHSN). SPs were classified into 10 types, according to ICD-9 criteria.

RESULTS

We recorded 193 SSIs associated with 5,063 SPs. SSI rates per type of SP were the following, compared with INICC and CDC-NHSN rates, respectively: 9.1% for laminectomy (vs 1.7% and 1.0%), 8.3% for cardiac surgery (vs 5.6% and 1.3%), 3.9% for appendix surgery (vs 2.9% and 1.4%), 5.5% for abdominal hysterectomy (vs 2.7% and 1.6%), 4.4% for prostate surgery (vs 2.1% and 1.2%), 4.5% for spleen surgery (vs 5.6% and 2.3%), 4.3% for vaginal hysterectomy (vs 2.0% and 0.9%), and 3.0% for gallbladder surgery (vs 2.5% and 0.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

Compared with CDC-NHSN rates, SSIs rates in our study hospitals were higher in most types of SPs, whereas compared with INICC, they were similar in 5 of the analyzed types, and higher in 4 types. This study represents an important advance toward knowledge of epidemiology in Colombia that will allow us to introduce targeted interventions.

A Trial of electronic surveillance feedback for quality improvement at Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders (NICHE) hospitals

BACKGROUND

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) risk is directly related to duration of indwelling urinary catheters (IUCs), rising beyond 2 days of catheterization.

METHODS

We conducted a cluster randomized study in nonintensive care units of Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders (NICHE) hospitals. Electronic surveillance data were used in an audit and feedback intervention for frontline nurses to reduce IUC duration. Multivariable methods were used to identify the difference in average IUC duration and proportion of patients with IUC duration <3 days between patients in an early intervention group and a delayed intervention group, adjusting for patient, unit, and hospital characteristics.

RESULTS

A total of 24 units at 19 NICHE hospitals reported 13,499 adult patients with IUCs over 18 months. Early and delayed intervention groups had important baseline differences in IUC utilization. Use of evidence-based CAUTI prevention measures increased during study participation. In multivariable analysis, the average IUC duration and proportion of patients with IUC duration <3 days were not improved in the early intervention group compared with the delayed intervention group.

CONCLUSION

The impact of the audit and feedback intervention was not significant despite the uptake of evidence-based CAUTI prevention practices.

Implementation of electronic surveillance of catheter use and catheter-associated urinary tract infection at Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders (NICHE) hospitals

BACKGROUND

Manual surveillance of indwelling urinary catheters (IUCs) and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) is resource intense.

METHODS

We implemented electronic surveillance in nonintensive care units of Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders (NICHE) hospitals. Capacity was created centrally to analyze data collected electronically or manually at each site. We measured the average IUC duration and proportion of patients with IUC duration <3 days. CAUTIs were identified using a validated algorithm based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definition and used to calculate rates and standardized incidence ratios (SIRs).

RESULTS

Electronic surveillance was implemented in 25 units at 20 NICHE hospitals. Full automation was achieved at 15 of 16 sites with electronic health records (EHRs). Electronic surveillance challenges included EHR data element formats and IUC documentation. Study units reported on 4,574 patients for 16,105 IUC days over a 6-month period. The mean of the unit-level average IUC duration was 3.2 ± 2.6 days, mean proportion of patients with IUC duration <3 days was 52.4% ± 50%, and mean CAUTI SIR was 0.14 ± 0.31.

CONCLUSION

A centralized electronic surveillance strategy for CAUTI is feasible and sustainable. Baseline performance of participating sites was exemplary, with very low SIRs at baseline.

Video observation to map hand contact and bacterial transmission in operating rooms

BACKGROUND

Hand hygiene (HH) is considered a primary intervention to avoid transmission of bacteria in health care settings and to prevent health care-associated infections. Despite efforts to decrease the incidence of health care-associated infections by improving HH, HH compliance rates vary widely depending on the hospital environment.

METHODS

We used intraoperative video observation to map temporal patterns of anesthesia provider hand contact with anesthesia work environment (AWE) surfaces and to assess HH compliance. Serial bacterial cultures of high contact objects were subsequently used to characterize bacterial transmission over time.

RESULTS

Using World Health Organization criteria, we found a large number of HH opportunities and a low rate of HH compliance by anesthesia providers (mean, 2.9%). We observed an inverse correlation between provider hand hygiene compliance during induction and emergence from anesthesia (3.2% and 4.1%, respectively) and the magnitude of AWE surface contamination (103 and 147 CFU, respectively) at these time points. We found no correlation between frequency of hand contact with the AWE and bacterial contamination.

CONCLUSIONS

Compliance with current HH recommendations by anesthesia providers is not feasible. However, there does appear to be a correlation between HH compliance rates and bacterial contamination of the AWE, an observation that should stimulate further work to design new methods for control of bacterial transmission in operating rooms.

Electronic implementation of a novel surveillance paradigm for ventilator-associated events. Feasibility and validation

RATIONALE

Accurate surveillance of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is hampered by subjective diagnostic criteria. A novel surveillance paradigm for ventilator-associated events (VAEs) was introduced.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the validity of surveillance using the new VAE algorithm.

METHODS

Prospective cohort study in two Dutch academic medical centers (2011-2012). VAE surveillance was electronically implemented and included assessment of (infection-related) ventilator-associated conditions (VAC, IVAC) and VAP. Concordance with ongoing prospective VAP surveillance was assessed, along with clinical diagnoses underlying VAEs and associated mortality of all conditions. Consequences of minor differences in electronic VAE implementation were evaluated.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The study included 2,080 patients with 2,296 admissions. Incidences of VAC, IVAC, VAE-VAP, and VAP according to prospective surveillance were 10.0, 4.2, 3.2, and 8.0 per 1000 ventilation days, respectively. The VAE algorithm detected at most 32% of the patients with VAP identified by prospective surveillance. VAC signals were most often caused by volume overload and infections, but not necessarily VAP. Subdistribution hazards for mortality were 3.9 (95% confidence interval, 2.9-5.3) for VAC, 2.5 (1.5-4.1) for IVAC, 2.0 (1.1-3.6) for VAE-VAP, and 7.2 (5.1-10.3) for VAP identified by prospective surveillance. In sensitivity analyses, mortality estimates varied considerably after minor differences in electronic algorithm implementation.

CONCLUSIONS

Concordance between the novel VAE algorithm and VAP was poor. Incidence and associated mortality of VAE were susceptible to small differences in electronic implementation. More studies are needed to characterize the clinical entities underlying VAE and to ensure comparability of rates from different institutions.

Significance of positive mediastinal cultures in pediatric cardiovascular surgical procedure patients undergoing delayed sternal closure

BACKGROUND

Many pediatric cardiac surgery centers obtain mediastinal cultures at the time of delayed sternal closure (DSC). There are no recommendations regarding how to treat patients with positive cultures. We explored the clinical significance of positive mediastinal cultures with regard to surgical site infections (SSI).

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed on all patients who underwent DSC at our institution between December 2006 and December 2011. National Healthcare Safety Network criteria were used to prospectively identify SSIs. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate potential risk factors for SSI and predictors for positive mediastinal cultures obtained at DSC.

RESULTS

A total of 178 patients underwent DSC during the study period; 155 patients met the eligibility criteria for the study and were included in the analysis. Of the 155 included patients, 11 patients (7.1%) experienced SSI. Patients with a positive mediastinal culture obtained at DSC were more likely to experience SSI than were patients with a negative culture (p=0.003). In univariate analysis, a positive mediastinal culture was the only factor associated with SSI (odds ratio [OR], 7.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.1 to 26.7). In multivariate analysis, age at operation≥2 weeks (adjusted OR [aOR], 4.9; 95% CI, 1.84 to 12.8), receipt of stress-dosed hydrocortisone while the chest was open (aOR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.1 to 7.6), and gestational age≤37 weeks (aOR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.01 to 7.27) were independent predictors for a positive mediastinal culture.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with positive mediastinal cultures obtained at DSC had a significantly higher rate of subsequent SSI, and a positive mediastinal culture was the only statistically significant predictor of SSI.

The Italian national surgical site infection surveillance programme and its positive impact, 2009 to 2011

Binary file ES_Abstracts_Final_ECDC.txt matches

Coatings and surface modifications imparting antimicrobial activity to orthopedic implants

Bacterial colonization and biofilm formation on an orthopedic implant surface is one of the worst possible outcomes of orthopedic intervention in terms of both patient prognosis and healthcare costs. Making the problem even more vexing is the fact that infections are often caused by events beyond the control of the operating surgeon and may manifest weeks to months after the initial surgery. Herein, we review the costs and consequences of implant infection as well as the methods of prevention and management. In particular, we focus on coatings and other forms of implant surface modification in a manner that imparts some antimicrobial benefit to the implant device. Such coatings can be classified generally based on their mode of action: surface adhesion prevention, bactericidal, antimicrobial-eluting, osseointegration promotion, and combinations of the above. Despite several advances in the efficacy of these antimicrobial methods, a remaining major challenge is ensuring retention of the antimicrobial activity over a period of months to years postoperation, an issue that has so far been inadequately addressed. Finally, we provide an overview of additional figures of merit that will determine whether a given antimicrobial surface modification warrants adoption for clinical use.

Potent antimicrobial activity of bone cement encapsulating silver nanoparticles capped with oleic acid

Bone cement is widely used in surgical treatments for the fixation for orthopaedic devices. Subsequently, 2–3% of patients undergoing these procedures develop infections that are both a major health risk for patients and a cost for the health service providers; this is also aggravated by the fact that antibiotics are losing efficacy because of the rising resistance of microorganisms to these substances. In this study, oleic acid capped silver nanoparticles (NP) were encapsulated into Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-based bone cement samples at various ratios. Antimicrobial activity against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, S. aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Acinetobacter baumannii was exhibited at NP concentrations as low as 0.05% (w/w). Furthermore, the mechanical properties and cytotoxicity of the bone cement containing these NP were assessed to guarantee that such material is safe to be used in orthopaedic surgical practice. © 2014 The Authors. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B: Applied Biomaterials Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 103B: 273–281, 2015.

Outcome and treatment of postoperative spine surgical site infections: predictors of treatment success and failure

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infection (SSI) is an important complication after spine surgery. The management of SSI is characterized by significant variability, and there is little guidance regarding an evidence-based approach. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors associated with treatment failure of SSI after spine surgery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 225 consecutive patients with SSI after spine surgery between July 2005 and July 2010 were studied retrospectively. Patients were treated with aggressive surgical debridement and prolonged antibiotic therapy. Outcome and risk factors were analyzed in 197 patients having 1 year of follow-up. Treatment success was defined as resolution within 90 days.

RESULTS

A total of 126 (76 %) cases were treated with retention of implants. Forty-three (22 %) cases had treatment failure with five (2.5 %) cases resulting in death. Lower rates of treatment success were observed with late infection (38 %), fusion with fixation to the ilium (67 %), Propionibacterium acnes (43 %), poly microbial infection (68 %), >6 operated spinal levels (67 %), and instrumented cases (73 %). Higher rates of early resolution were observed with superficial infection (93 %), methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (95 %), and <3 operated spinal levels (88 %). Multivariate logistic regression revealed late infection was the most significant independent risk factor associated with treatment failure. Superficial infection and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus were predictors of early resolution.

CONCLUSION

Postoperative spine infections were treated with aggressive surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy. High rates of treatment failure occurred in cases with late infection, long instrumented fusions, polymicrobial infections, and Propionibacterium acnes. Removal of implants and direct or staged re-implantation may be a useful strategy in cases with high risk of treatment failure.

A polymicrobial outbreak of surgical site infections following cardiac surgery at a community hospital in Florida, 2011-2012

We describe an outbreak of 22 sternal surgical site infections following cardiac surgery, including 4 Gordonia infections. Possible operation room environmental contamination and suboptimal infection control practices regarding scrub attire may have contributed to the outbreak.

Ureaplasma parvum prosthetic joint infection detected by PCR

We describe the first reported case of Ureaplasma parvum prosthetic joint infection (PJI) detected by PCR. Ureaplasma species do not possess a cell wall and are usually associated with colonization and infection of mucosal surfaces (not prosthetic material). U. parvum is a relatively new species name for certain serovars of Ureaplasma urealyticum, and PCR is useful for species determination. Our patient presented with late infection of his right total knee arthroplasty. Intraoperative fluid and tissue cultures and pre- and postoperative synovial fluid cultures were all negative. To discern the pathogen, we employed PCR coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (PCR/ESI-MS). Our patient's failure to respond to empirical antimicrobial treatment and our previous experience with PCR/ESI-MS in culture-negative cases of infection prompted us to use this approach over other diagnostic modalities. PCR/ESI-MS detected U. parvum in all samples. U. parvum-specific PCR testing was performed on all synovial fluid samples to confirm the U. parvum detection.

Universal intravenous access cleaning device fails to sterilize stopcocks

BACKGROUND

Contamination of a central venous catheter may occur through use of conventional open-lumen stopcock devices (COLDs), or disinfectable, needleless, closed connectors (DNCCs). We investigated the effectiveness of a new universal IV access cleaning device (Site-Scrub) compared with 70% isopropyl alcohol prep pads for sanitizing COLDs or DNCCs inoculated with common catheter-associated pathogens.

METHODS

Site-Scrub was compared with 70% alcohol prep pads for sanitizing contaminated female Luer lock COLD or DNCC filled with sterile saline or propofol and 2 common bacterial central venous catheter contaminants (Staphylococcus epidermidis or Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Devices were contaminated using a glove touch (COLD and DNCC) or syringe tip (COLD). The primary end point of the study was colony-forming units (CFU) after 24 hours.

RESULTS

The use of glove touch contamination, the contaminants, S epidermidis and P aeruginosa, produced CFU in saline-filled COLDs treated with the Site-Scrub, but not in those treated with alcohol pads (P < 0.001). Similar results were observed with propofol-filled COLDs (P < 0.001). For DNCCs filled with saline or propofol, both alcohol and Site-Scrub effectively reduced CFU growth compared with contaminated controls (P < 0.001). When COLDs were contaminated by treated syringe tips, there was no significant evidence of reduction in CFU growth by using either alcohol pads or Site-Scrub compared with contaminated controls.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggest that when the inner surface of the COLD is contaminated, both alcohol pads and Site-Scrub were not significantly effective in decontaminating the COLD. When the COLD rim is contaminated, however, alcohol pads outperform Site-Scrub. DNCCs were uniformly decontaminated with either treatment. Future work should focus on better access systems because current COLDs are difficult to decontaminate.

Persistent fever in the ICU

Disorders of elevated body temperature may be classified as either fever or hyperthermia. Fever is caused by a pyrogen-mediated upward adjustment of the hypothalamic thermostat; hyperthermia results from a loss of physiologic control of temperature regulation. Fever in the ICU can be due to infectious or noninfectious causes. The initial approach to a febrile, critically ill patient should involve a thoughtful review of the clinical data to elicit the likely source of fever prior to the ordering of cultures, imaging studies, and broad-spectrum antibiotics. Both high fever and prolonged fever have been associated with increased mortality; however, a causal role for fever as a mediator of adverse outcomes during non-neurologic critical illness has not been established. Outside the realm of acute brain injury, the practice of treating fever remains controversial. To generate high-quality, evidence-based guidelines for the management of fever, large, prospective, multicenter trials are needed.

Incidence, pathogens and resistance patterns of nosocomial infections at a rural hospital in Gabon

Background

Nosocomial infections pose substantial risk to patients receiving care in hospitals. In Africa, this problem is aggravated by inadequate infection control due to poor hygiene, resource and structural constraints, deficient surveillance data and lack of awareness regarding nosocomial infections. We carried out this study to determine the incidence and spectrum of nosocomial infections, pathogens and antibiotic resistance patterns in a tertiary regional hospital in Lambaréné, Gabon.

Methods

This prospective case study was carried out over a period of six months at the Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné, Gabon. All patients admitted to the departments of surgery, gynecology/obstetrics and internal medicine were screened daily for signs and symptoms of hospital-acquired infections.

Results

A total of 2925 patients were screened out of which 46 nosocomial infections (1.6%) were diagnosed. These comprised 20 (44%) surgical-site infections, 12 (26%) urinary-tract infections, 9 (20%) bacteraemias and 5 (11%) other infections. High rates of nosocomial infections were found after hysterectomies (12%) and Caesarean sections (6%). Most frequent pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Eight (40%) of 20 identified E. coli and Klebsiella spp. strains were ESBL-producing organisms.

Conclusion

The cumulative incidence of nosocomial infections in this study was low; however, the high rates of surgical site infections and multi-resistant pathogens necessitate urgent comprehensive interventions of infection control.

Guidelines for prevention of hospital acquired infections

These guidelines, written for clinicians, contains evidence-based recommendations for the prevention of hospital acquired infections Hospital acquired infections are a major cause of mortality and morbidity and provide challenge to clinicians. Measures of infection control include identifying patients at risk of nosocomial infections, observing hand hygiene, following standard precautions to reduce transmission and strategies to reduce VAP, CR-BSI, CAUTI. Environmental factors and architectural lay out also need to be emphasized upon. Infection prevention in special subsets of patients - burns patients, include identifying sources of organism, identification of organisms, isolation if required, antibiotic prophylaxis to be used selectively, early removal of necrotic tissue, prevention of tetanus, early nutrition and surveillance. Immunodeficient and Transplant recipients are at a higher risk of opportunistic infections. The post tranplant timetable is divided into three time periods for determining risk of infections. Room ventilation, cleaning and decontamination, protective clothing with care regarding food requires special consideration. Monitoring and Surveillance are prioritized depending upon the needs. Designated infection control teams should supervise the process and help in collection and compilation of data. Antibiotic Stewardship Recommendations include constituting a team, close coordination between teams, audit, formulary restriction, de-escalation, optimizing dosing, active use of information technology among other measure. The recommendations in these guidelines are intended to support, and not replace, good clinical judgment. The recommendations are rated by a letter that indicates the strength of the recommendation and a Roman numeral that indicates the quality of evidence supporting the recommendation, so that readers can ascertain how best to apply the recommendations in their practice environments.

Risk factors of surgical site infection after hepatic resection

A study of 7,388 consecutive patients after hepatic resection between 2011 and 2012 identified hepatolithiasis, cirrhosis, and intraoperative blood transfusion as the only independent risk factors of both incisional and organ/space surgical site infection (SSI). Patients with these conditions should be cared for with caution to lower SSI rates.

Guidelines for the prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia and their implementation. The Spanish "Zero-VAP" bundle

BACKGROUND

"Zero-VAP" is a proposal for the implementation of a simultaneous multimodal intervention in Spanish intensive care units (ICU) consisting of a bundle of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) prevention measures.

METHODS/DESIGN

An initiative of the Spanish Societies of Intensive Care Medicine and of Intensive Care Nurses, the project is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Health, and participation is voluntary. In addition to guidelines for VAP prevention, the "Zero-VAP" Project incorporates an integral patient safety program and continuous online validation of the application of the bundle. For the latter, VAP episodes and participation indices are entered into the web-based Spanish ICU Infection Surveillance Program "ENVIN-HELICS" database, which provides continuous information about local, regional and national VAP incidence rates. Implementation of the guidelines aims at the reduction of VAP to less than 9 episodes per 1000 days of mechanical ventilation. A total of 35 preventive measures were initially selected. A task force of experts used the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation Working Group methodology to generate a list of 7 basic "mandatory" recommendations (education and training in airway management, strict hand hygiene for airway management, cuff pressure control, oral hygiene with chlorhexidine, semi-recumbent positioning, promoting measures that safely avoid or reduce time on ventilator, and discouraging scheduled changes of ventilator circuits, humidifiers and endotracheal tubes) and 3 additional "highly recommended" measures (selective decontamination of the digestive tract, aspiration of subglottic secretions, and a short course of iv antibiotic).

DISCUSSION

We present the Spanish VAP prevention guidelines and describe the methodology used for the selection and implementation of the recommendations and the organizational structure of the project. Compared to conventional guideline documents, the associated safety assurance program, the online data recording and compliance control systems, as well as the existence of a pre-defined objective are the distinct features of "Zero VAP".

Effectiveness of local vancomycin powder to decrease surgical site infections: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND CONTEXT

Some surgeons use systemic vancomycin to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs), but patients who do not carry methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus have an increased risk of SSIs when given vancomycin alone for intravenous prophylaxis. Applying vancomycin powder to the wound before closure could increase the local tissue vancomycin level without significant systemic levels. However, the effectiveness of local vancomycin powder application for preventing SSIs has not been established.

PURPOSE

Our objective was to systematically review and evaluate studies on the effectiveness of local vancomycin powder for decreasing SSIs.

STUDY DESIGN

Meta-analysis.

SAMPLE

We included observational studies, quasi-experimental studies, and randomized controlled trials of patients undergoing surgical procedures that involved vancomycin powder application to surgical wounds, reported SSI rates, and had a comparison group that did not use local vancomycin powder.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome was postoperative SSIs. The secondary outcomes included deep incisional SSIs and S. aureus SSIs.

METHODS

We performed systematic literature searches in PubMed, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials via Wiley, Scopus (including EMBASE abstracts), Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, BMC Proceedings, ProQuest Dissertation, and Thesis in Health and Medicine, and conference abstracts from IDWeek, the Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons annual meetings, and also the Scoliosis Research Society Annual Meeting and Course. We ran the searches from inception on May 9, 2013 with no limits on date or language. After reviewing 373 titles or abstracts and 22 articles in detail, we included 10 independent studies and used a random-effects model when pooling risk estimates to assess the effectiveness of local vancomycin powder application for preventing SSIs, the outcome of interest. We used the I²-index, Q-statistic, and corresponding p value to assess the heterogeneity of the risk estimates, and funnel plots to assess publication bias.

RESULTS

We included seven quasi-experimental studies, two cohort studies, and one randomized controlled trial, encompassing 5,888 surgical patients. The pooled effects showed that applying local vancomycin powder was significantly protective against SSIs (pooled odds ratio [pOR] 0.19; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.09-0.38), deep incisional SSIs (pOR 0.23; 95% CI 0.09-0.57), and SSIs caused by S. aureus (pOR 0.22; 95% CI 0.08-0.58). However, significant heterogeneity was present for studies evaluating all SSIs or deep incisional SSIs. When we pooled the risk estimates from the eight studies that assessed patients undergoing spinal operations, vancomycin powder remained significantly protective against SSIs (pOR 0.16; 95% CI 0.09-0.30), deep incisional SSIs (pOR 0.18; 95% CI 0.09-0.36), and SSIs caused by S. aureus (pOR 0.11; 95% CI 0.03-0.36). The pooled ORs from studies of spinal operations were lower than those for all studies and the estimates from spinal operation studies were homogeneous. However, there was evidence of publication bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Local administration of vancomycin powder appears to protect against SSIs, deep incisional SSIs, and S. aureus SSIs after spinal operations. Large, high-quality studies should be performed to evaluate this intervention before it is used routinely.

Proposal for a sub-classification of hepato-biliary-pancreatic operations for surgical site infection surveillance following assessment of results of prospective multicenter data

BACKGROUND

Surgical site infection (SSI) surveillance in Japan is based on the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance system, which categorizes all hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgeries, except for cholecystectomy, into "BILI." We evaluated differences among BILI procedures to determine the optimal subdivision for SSI surveillance.

METHODS

We conducted multicenter SSI surveillance at 20 hospitals. BILI was subdivided into choledochectomy, pancreatoduodenectomy, hepatectomy, hepatectomy with biliary reconstruction, pancreatoduodenectomy with hepatectomy, distal pancreatectomy and total pancreatectomy to determine the optimal subdivision. The outcome of interest was SSI. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the predictive significance of variables in each type of surgery.

RESULTS

1,926 BILI cases were included in this study. SSI rates were 23.2 % for all BILI; for choledochectomy 23.6 %, pancreatoduodenectomy 39.3 %, hepatectomy 12.8 %, hepatectomy with biliary reconstruction 41.9 %, pancreatoduodenectomy with hepatectomy 27.3 %, distal pancreatectomy 31.8 %, and total pancreatectomy 20.0 %. SSI rates for hepatectomy were significantly lower than those for non-hepatectomy BILI. Risk factors for developing SSI with hepatectomy were drain placement and long operative duration, while for non-hepatectomy BILI, risk factors were use of intra-abdominal silk sutures, SSI risk index and long operative duration.

CONCLUSIONS

Hepatectomy and non-hepatectomy BILI differ with regard to the incidence of and risk factors for developing SSI. These surgeries should be assessed separately when conducting SSI surveillance.

Survey of North Carolina hospital policies regarding visitor use of personal protective equipment for entering the rooms of patients under isolation precautions

OBJECTIVE

To explore the range of hospital policies for visitor use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when entering the room of patients under isolation precautions.

DESIGN

Survey using an online questionnaire.

SETTING

Acute care hospitals registered in the North Carolina Statewide Program for Infection Control and Epidemiology (SPICE).

METHODS

A total of 136 North Carolina hospitals were invited to participate in an online survey. The survey questionnaire was developed, reviewed, and pilot tested, and then it was distributed through SPICE listserv registered e-mail addresses. The survey was conducted from February 6 to March 30, 2012.

RESULTS

Among 93 respondent hospitals (response rate, 68.4%), 82 acute care hospitals (60.3%) were included in the analyses. Substantial variation was observed with regard to hospital policies for visitor PPE use when visiting patients under isolation precautions. A total of 71% of hospitals had a hospital visitor policy, and 96% of respondents agreed that hospitals should have a visitor policy. Only 14% of hospitals monitored visitor compliance with PPE. Reported compliance rates varied from "very low" to 97%. Many hospitals (28%) reported difficulties related to visitor compliance with isolation precautions, including hostility and refusal to comply.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study results illuminated hospital policy variations for visitor isolation precautions. Reported problems with hospital visitor policies (eg, different policies across departments or facilities) suggest the need for standard guidelines and for enhanced public awareness about the importance of visitor compliance with isolation precautions.

Marking wire placement for improved accuracy in thoracic spinal surgery

OBJECTIVE

To present an innovative approach that does not rely on intraoperative X-ray imaging for identifying thoracic target levels and critically appraise its value in reducing the risk of wrong-level surgery and radiation exposure.

METHODS

96 patients admitted for surgery of the thoracic spine were prospectively enrolled, undergoing a total of 99 marking wire placements. Preoperatively a flexible marking wire derived from breast cancer surgery was inserted with computed tomography (CT) guidance at the site of interest--the wire was then used as an intraoperative guidance tool.

RESULTS

Wire placement was considered successful in 96 cases (97%). Most common pathologies were tumors (62.5%) and degenerative disorders (16.7%). Effective doses from CT imaging were significantly higher for wire placements in the upper third of the thoracic spine compared to the lower two thirds (p = 0.015). Radiation exposure to operating room personnel could be reduced by more than 90% in all non-instrumented cases. No adverse reactions were observed, one patient (1.04%) underwent surgical revision due to an epifascial empyema. No wires had to be removed due to lack of patient compliance or infection.

CONCLUSIONS

This is a safe and practical approach to identify the level of interest in thoracic spinal surgery employing a marking wire. Its application merits consideration in any spinal case where X-ray localization could prove unsafe, particularly in cases lacking bony pathologies such as intradural tumors.

Dental disease and periprosthetic joint infection

➤ The number of patients with end-stage osteoarthritis is increasing, and treatment with hip and knee arthroplasty is expected to increase over the next several decades. ➤ Dental disease has long been anecdotally associated with increased periprosthetic joint infections, although case-control studies do not support this relationship. ➤ While most recent guidelines for the prevention of endocarditis have favored treatment of fewer patients, the most recent recommendations for prevention of periprosthetic joint infection have increased the number of patients who would receive antibiotics before a dental procedure. ➤ Antibiotics given before a dental procedure decrease the risk of bacteremia from the oral cavity, but this is of uncertain clinical importance. ➤ The number of patients who would require antibiotics before dental procedures to prevent one periprosthetic joint infection greatly outnumbers the number of patients who would experience an adverse event associated with antibiotics given before a dental procedure.

Temporal trends of ventilator-associated pneumonia incidence and the effect of implementing health-care bundles in a suburban community

BACKGROUND

Recent changes in critical care delivery, including the widespread implementation of health-care bundles, were aimed at reducing complications of critical illness, in particular ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), but no population-based study evaluated its effectiveness.

METHODS

Using a previously validated electronic medical record database, we identified adult (≥ 18 years old) critically ill patients from Olmsted County, Minnesota, requiring mechanical ventilation for ≥ 48 h from January 2003 to December 2009. Trained intensivists identified cases of VAP according to different established clinical definitions. The incidence and outcome of VAP was compared before and after implementation of the so-called "VAP bundle."

RESULTS

The median age, severity of illness, proportion of surgical patients, and patients with neurologic disease increased over time (P &lt; .05 for trend in all). Regardless of the definition used, the VAP rate remained similar throughout the study period and did not change with the introduction of the VAP bundle. According to previous Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, the yearly estimates of the VAP incidence ranged between 7.1 and 10.4 cases per 1,000 ventilator-days, with an age-adjusted incidence of 3.1 vs 5.6 per 100,000 population (P = .54 for trends). Standardized hospital mortality ratio of patients at high risk to develop VAP significantly decreased from 1.7 (95% CI, 0.8-3.0) to 0.7 (95% CI, 0.3-1.4; P = .0003 for trend).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of VAP was unaffected by the implementation of the VAP bundle. Secular changes in hospital mortality are unlikely to be attributed to the VAP bundle per se.

Impact of enhanced ventilator care bundle checklist on nursing documentation in an intensive care unit

Ventilator-associated pneumonia is a hospital-acquired infection that may develop in patients 48 hours after mechanical ventilation. The project goal was to determine whether a ventilator-associated pneumonia care bundle checklist embedded into an existing electronic health record would increase completeness of nursing documentation in an intensive care unit setting. With the embedded checklist, there were significant improvements in nursing documentation and a decreased incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia.

A novel zwitterionic bioceramic with dual antibacterial capability

A novelzwitterionicbioceramic is developed, capable of lowering the relative bacterial adhesion from 100% to below 0.1%, as derived fromin vitroassays usingS. aureus. This matrix can release antibiotics over a long time and provides new insights in the treatment of bone implant infections.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection: an independent risk factor for mortality in patients with poststernotomy mediastinitis

OBJECTIVE

The mortality rate of patients with poststernotomy mediastinitis remains very high. The aim of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with mortality in these patients.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Surveillance of sternal surgical-site infections including mediastinitis was carried out for adult patients undergoing a sternotomy between 2004 and 2012. Criteria from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were used to make the diagnosis. All data on patients with a diagnosis of mediastinitis who were included in the study and on mortality risk factors were obtained from the hospital database and then analyzed using SPPS 16.0 for Windows.

RESULTS

Of the 19,767 patients undergoing open heart surgery, 117 (0.39%) had poststernotomy mediastinitis; 32% of these 117 died. The independent risk factors for mortality were methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) [odds ratio (OR) 12.11 and 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.15-46.47], intensive-care unit stays >48 h after the first operation (OR 11.21 and 95% CI 3.24-38.84) and surgery that included valve replacement (OR 6.2 and 95% CI 1.44-27.13). The mortality rate decreased significantly, dropping from 38% (34/89) between 2004 and 2008 to 14% (4/28) between 2009 and 2012 (p = 0.018).

CONCLUSION

In this study, elimination of MRSA from the hospital setting decreased the rate of mortality in patients with poststernotomy mediastinitis.

Impact of Medicare's payment policy on mediastinitis following coronary artery bypass graft surgery in US hospitals

BACKGROUND

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented a policy in October 2008 to eliminate additional Medicare payment for mediastinitis following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the impact of this policy on mediastinitis rates, using Medicare claims and National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) prospective surveillance data.

METHODS

We used an interrupted time series design to compare mediastinitis rates before and after the policy, adjusted for secular trends. Billing rates came from Medicare inpatient claims following 638,761 CABG procedures in 1,234 US hospitals (January 2006-September 2010). Prospective surveillance rates came from 151 NHSN hospitals in 29 states performing 94,739 CABG procedures (January 2007-September 2010). Logistic regression mixed-effects models estimated trends for mediastinitis rates.

RESULTS

We found a sudden drop in coding for index admission mediastinitis at the time of policy implementation (odds ratio, 0.36 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.23-0.57]) and a decreasing trend in coding for index admission mediastinitis in the postintervention period compared with the preintervention period (ratio of slopes, 0.83 [95% CI, 0.74-0.95]). However, we saw no impact of the policy on infection rates as measured using NHSN data. Our results were not affected by changes in patient risk over time, heterogeneity in hospital demographics, or timing of hospital participation in NHSN.

CONCLUSIONS

The CMS policy of withholding additional Medicare payment for mediastinitis on the basis of claims-based evidence of infection was associated with changes in coding for infections but not with changes in actual infection rates during the first 2 years after policy implementation.

The prevention of surgical site infection in elective colon surgery

Infections at the surgical site continue to occur in as many as 20% of elective colon resection cases. Methods to reduce these infections are inconsistently applied. Surgical site infection (SSI) is the result of multiple interactive variables including the inoculum of bacteria that contaminate the site, the virulence of the contaminating microbes, and the local environment at the surgical site. These variables that promote infection are potentially offset by the effectiveness of the host defense. Reduction in the inoculum of bacteria is achieved by appropriate surgical site preparation, systemic preventive antibiotics, and use of mechanical bowel preparation in conjunction with the oral antibiotic bowel preparation. Intraoperative reduction of hematoma, necrotic tissue, foreign bodies, and tissue dead space will reduce infections. Enhancement of the host may be achieved by perioperative supplemental oxygenation, maintenance of normothermia, and glycemic control. These methods require additional research to identify optimum application. Uniform application of currently understood methods and continued research into new methods to reduce microbial contamination and enhancement of host responsiveness can lead to better outcomes.