Keywords
infographic - survey - infections - orthopaedics - surgical practice
Epidemiologic survey is a common tool to study habits and behavior of a community.
Orthopaedic surgeons perform surgical procedures as per the World Health Organization
(WHO) guidelines for the prevention of surgical infections. Scientific societies implement
these guidelines according to specific issues related to different countries in the
world.[1] In such a scenario, the daily practice to approach surgical theater and procedures
is an essential step to be standardized among hospitals and surgeons.[2]
[3]
[4]
Of the 850 surgeons e-mailed, 127 registered for this survey. Most of the surgeons
were high volume and performed more than three surgeries per week ([Fig. 1]).
Fig. 1 Approach to surgical theater: Epidemiological survey on practice and World Health
Organization global guidelines.
Results showed 48 % of the cases were referred always and 47 % sometimes to the preadmission
clinic to prepare the patients for surgery. Hospital guidelines for surgical antibiotic
prophylaxis are standardized in 89% of the cases as suggested by the WHO guidelines.
Hair removal is a practice forbidden by the guidelines, but more than three-fourths
of surgeons of the survey prepare the skin by shaving it. Personnel working in the
operation theater wear cap, mask, and dress clothes as per the surgical practices.
The cleaning and changing services were followed in 87% of the cases. The orthopaedic
cases had a dedicated operating room (OR) in 75% of the hospitals, but one-fourth
shared ORs with other surgical specialties. Hands were washed using proper antimicrobial
soap. Double-layered surgical gloves were used and changed regularly as described
by the international guidelines. Surgical helmets were used mainly for joint replacement
surgeries. Surgical instruments were sterilized by a certified procedure in 90% of
the cases. Meetings and audits for procedure with nurses and technical staff were
common in two-fifths of surgeons.
Surgery reliability is one of the most important parameters for patient preparation
and prevention of infection. Audit, survey, and guidelines represent essential tools
of our surgical practice.
