2 8 S U P P L E M E N T T O O U T P A T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E M A Y 2 0 1 7
S
urgeons
who pre-
scribe to
the C.Y.A.
method of
patient care are at least
partially responsible for
the spread of antimicro-
bial-resistant strains of
bacteria, says Phenelle
Segal, RN, CIC, president
of Infection Control Consulting Services in Delray Beach, Fla. She's had sur-
geons tell her, "I'd much rather give patients extra doses of post-op antibiotics
than have them get a surgical site infection." In fact, that's what Ms. Segal's sur-
geon admitted to her when complications from an unnecessary post-op dose of
cefazolin contributed to the Clostridium difficile infection she suffered in 2013.
Ms. Segal survived the potentially fatal bug, but your patients might not be so
lucky.
Efforts to prevent the spread of "superbugs" — the widely used catchphrase
for antibiotic-resistant bacteria — begin in your facility with a rather simple
premise: Create standardized infection control policies based on national guide-
lines and best practices, develop a consistent approach to implementing them
Kryptonite for Superbugs
3 surefire ways to
strengthen your
infection prevention
protocols to neutralize
antimicrobial-
resistant bacteria.
Daniel Cook
Executive Editor
• DOSE APPROPRIATE Join the fight against superbugs by implementing an antibiotic stew-
ardship program in your facility.
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN,
CNOR
