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Implementation of Quality Measures to Reduce Surgical Site Infection in Colorectal Patients

  • Original Contribution
  • Published:
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Abstract

Purpose

The goal of this study was to determine the rate of surgical site infection and compliance with process measures designed to prevent infection in a defined population of patients undergoing colorectal operations.

Methods

A task-force consisting of surgeons, hospital infection control personnel, anesthesiologists, and nurses was convened to enforce the use of process measures to prevent infections. We monitored antibiotic selection, dosage, timing, redosing and discontinuation, hair removal technique, intraoperative and postoperative body temperature, and perioperative glucose control for 12 months by using electronic medical records. Patients underwent a minimum of 30 days of postoperative follow-up and the attending surgeon diagnosed infections.

Results

Between April 2006 and March 2007, 298 patients underwent abdominal colorectal operations. The overall infection rate was 20 percent for colon procedures and 11 percent for small-bowel procedures. Compliance for most process measures improved from the first to the fourth quarter, and during the final quarter, correct antibiotic dose and hair removal with clippers exceeded 90 percent.

Conclusions

The rate of surgical site infection after colorectal surgery is likely to be higher than that reported in national quality improvement programs. Perfect compliance with performance measures may be difficult to attain.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Charles McCulloch and Chengshi Jin for statistical assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA

    Elizabeth C. Wick M.D., Lois Ann Indorf N.P., Madhulika G. Varma M.D. & Julio Garcia-Aguilar M.D., Ph.D.

  2. Department of Infection Control, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA

    Laurel Gibbs M.A.T.

Authors
  1. Elizabeth C. Wick M.D.
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  2. Laurel Gibbs M.A.T.
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  3. Lois Ann Indorf N.P.
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  4. Madhulika G. Varma M.D.
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  5. Julio Garcia-Aguilar M.D., Ph.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Julio Garcia-Aguilar M.D., Ph.D..

Additional information

Presented at the meeting of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, St. Louis, Missouri, June 2 to 6, 2007.

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Wick, E.C., Gibbs, L., Indorf, L.A. et al. Implementation of Quality Measures to Reduce Surgical Site Infection in Colorectal Patients. Dis Colon Rectum 51, 1004–1009 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10350-007-9142-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10350-007-9142-y

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