Prevention of Surgical Site Infections

J. Njeri Wainaina, MD, FACP

Based off the original module, Prevention and Treatment of Surgical Site Infections by Elizabeth A. Rice, MD and Thomas R. Talbot, MP, MPH.

If you are a Program Director and would like to grant access to your trainees, please reach out to education@hospitalmedicine.org for an academic access code.

Summary

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a major cause of postoperative illness, longer hospitalization, and increased healthcare costs, making the prevention and treatment of SSIs an important aspect of patient care for hospitalists. The following module outlines patient and procedural factors that increase the risk of SSIs, examines the basic principles of antimicrobial prophylaxis for SSI, reviews nonantibiotic interventions to lessen the risk of SSI, and outlines evaluation for and treatment of an SSI. In addition, a discussion of the controversy surrounding preoperative decolonization of Staphylococcus aureus is provided.

Learning Objectives

After completing the module, the participant should be able to:

  1. IDENTIFY risk factors for the development of surgical site infections (SSIs)
  2. DISCUSS the basic principles of antimicrobial prophylaxis for SSI, including drug selection, dosing and timing of administration.
  3. DESCRIBE nonantibiotic interventions designed to reduce a patient’s risk of developing SSIs, including reduction of hyperglycemia, skin antisepsis and appropriate hair removal practices.
  4. EXPLORE preoperative decolonization of Staphylococcus aureus as a strategy for SSI prevention.
  5. DEVELOP an approach to the assessment and treatment of postoperative fever and SSI
Instructions

The following is an interactive educational module designed to help you gauge your basic knowledge of the topic and then direct you to areas you may need to focus on. It consists of several sections: a pre-test, a study program, a post-test and a CME evaluation. All sections must be completed to receive CME credit.

 

Additional Information

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 2.00 ABIM MOC Self Evaluation Points
    Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 2.00 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.
  • 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Course opens: 
04/22/2024
Course expires: 
04/21/2027
Member cost:
$0.00
Your cost:
$95.00
Rating: 
0
Author

J. Njeri Wainaina, MD, FACP

Editors

Leonard Feldman, MD, FACP, SFHM

Kurt Pfeifer, MD, FACP, SFHM

The faculty and planners of these activities have no relevant relationships to disclose unless denoted above. All relevant relationships were mitigated prior to the start of this activity.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure Policy

In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, SHM requires that individuals in a position to control the content of an educational activity disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest. SHM mitigates all conflicts of interest to ensure independence, objectivity, balance, and scientific rigor in all its educational programs. All relevant financial relationships shall be disclosed to participants prior to the start of the activity.

Furthermore, SHM seeks to verify that all scientific research referred to, reported, or used in a continuing medical education (CME) activity conforms to the generally accepted standards of experimental design, data collection, and analysis. SHM is committed to providing its learners with high-quality CME activities that promote improvements in healthcare and not those of a commercial interest.

Accreditation Statement

The Society of Hospital Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit Designation Statement:

The Society of Hospital Medicine designates this activity for a maximum of 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 2.00 MOC in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

Available Credit

  • 2.00 ABIM MOC Self Evaluation Points
    Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 2.00 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.
  • 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

Price

Member cost:
$0.00
Your cost:
$95.00
Please login or register to take this course.

The following is an interactive educational module designed to help you gauge your basic knowledge of the topic and then direct you to areas you may need to focus on. It consists of several sections: a pre-test, a study program, a post-test, and CME evaluation. All sections must be completed to receive CME credit.

Click START to begin.

If you are a Program Director and would like to grant access to your trainees, please reach out to education@hospitalmedicine.org for an academic access code.