7. Pre-op
nutrition.
Malnourished
patients have
higher risk of
surgical compli-
cations, includ-
ing infection,
says Dr. Chen.
She points out
that a higher
BMI doesn't
necessarily
mean a patient is properly nourished. Look for other indicators, such
as albumin levels less than 3.5 g/dL, and give malnourished patients
low-sugar nutritional supplementation twice daily 14 days before sur-
gery and for 1 month after surgery.
Constant compliance
Implementing a checklist like the one in use at Einstein ensures each
provider completes their part of the infection prevention protocols. It
creates a sense of accountability, and can be used to identify barriers
to standardized care.
"We're so much more aware of every detail of patient care than we
ever were before," says Ms. Yerkes. "It's often the little things that add
up to make a big difference in your infection control efforts."
OSM
5 4 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • A U G U S T 2 0 1 8
• IN THE NOSE Treating the nares with povidone-iodine can help prevent deep surgical site
infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
