Aziz Ann-Marie, Isalska Barbara
Br J Nurs. 2010;19(20):S20-9. doi: 10.12968/bjon.2010.19.Sup10.79690.
Wound infections from surgical sites account for 15% of all healthcare-associated infections (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), 2008). There is evidence that the care provided before and after the operation is paramount to minimize the risk of surgical site infection. Sternal wound infections lengthen hospital stays (or prompt readmission) and carry a high mortality rate. In August 2009 a Manchester Hospital discovered a cluster of three patients with sternal wound infections. A review of clinical data for patients having cardiac surgery from 1 December 2008 and 9 October 2009 revealed an increased incidence of patients with sternal wound infections. The data did not reveal a significant problem, but one that should be kept under observation. During the investigation no single pathogen had been identified as responsible and no obvious source of environmental infection was identified. Implementing additional infection prevention and control practices helped the hospital team to improve the care given to patients. A host of factors, ranging from providing more information on wound care to patients, improving audit scores, and adhering to NICE guidelines, contributed to the reduction in this type of surgical site infection.
手术部位的伤口感染占所有医疗相关感染的15%（英国国家卫生与临床优化研究所（NICE），2008年）。有证据表明，手术前后提供的护理对于将手术部位感染风险降至最低至关重要。胸骨伤口感染会延长住院时间（或导致再次入院），且死亡率很高。2009年8月，一家曼彻斯特医院发现了三例胸骨伤口感染病例。对2008年12月1日至2009年10月9日接受心脏手术患者的临床数据进行审查后发现，胸骨伤口感染患者的发病率有所上升。数据并未显示出严重问题，但应持续观察。在调查过程中，没有确定单一病原体为病因，也未发现明显的环境感染源。实施额外的感染预防和控制措施帮助医院团队改善了对患者的护理。从向患者提供更多伤口护理信息、提高审计评分到遵守NICE指南等一系列因素，都有助于减少这类手术部位感染。
