How do you track post-op infections?

I recently have heard in discussion that patients that have received implants should be tracked for one year. Does anyone know who has mandated this? How do you track your patiens post-operatively?

Started by: Traci Putman (Director, Surgical Services/Director of Nursing) at January 26, 2010 (1:40 pm)

Comments and Responses

View: earliest first

Our ICP sends out a list to each physician monthly to track infections 30 days post-op. For implants, she sends out a list of each patient that received implants on a quarterly basis one year out. The surgery date is on the list. The surgeon is asked to report infections for one year for implants, complete the form, and return it.

John H. (Administrator/Director/Manager/Owner/Executive Officer) at May 18, 2010 (11:13 am)

At the begining of each month I take the monthly list of patients from the prior month and send it with a form to be filled out if a patient presents with an SSI. I ask for the symptoms and treatment and look at the OR record for any common denominators. I don't have a system for keeping track of the patients w/implants but do know that they are to be followed for one year. We are a Physician owned facility with the office practice in the same building so it is easy for me keep up with getting returns on the reports....lucky me!

Joan S. (OR Manager/Supervisor) at May 11, 2010 (8:30 am)

JC NPSG #7 requires monitoring of infections for the first 30 days post-op and for one year for inplantables. "Infection rates are measured for the first 30 days following procedures and for the first year following implantables"
They don't give any suggestions how to do it. The expectation is that you create a process and follow through.

Judy H. (Administrator/Director/Manager/Owner/Exec. Officer) at May 11, 2010 (7:55 am)

The new CMS requirements specify surgical site infection surveillance must be done, but does not prescribe how it is to be done. There should be a surveillance plan as part of the written Infection Control Program plan. Depending on what procedures you do and the volumes, you may choose to do two or three specific, high volume or high risk procedures- hernia repairs, breast augmentation, laminectomy, etc. Some ASCs call the patient at 30 days to see if they've had a wound problem, some check in with the surgeon's office to see if the patient had a complication. Others send each surgeon a list of the patients having that procedure and ask if any became infected. There is no requirement to follow ALL cases. If the ASC is a very low volume facility, this might be reasonable. If you track specific procedures, you can compare your rates with the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN/CDC) rates. You would need to use the NHSN criteria as noted in a previous post.

Marcia Patrick (Other) at May 4, 2010 (11:42 am)

I see where the CDC regs are but the question I still have is how is anyone really tracking this 1 year out?

Lucinda White (Administrator/Director/Manager/Owner/Exec. Officer) at April 27, 2010 (11:36 am) [last edited on September 14, 2010 (4:32 pm)]

I started this topic and found that alot of you were as puzzled as I was initially. I recently emailed CDC and received a response. The reply was if you are using the CDC's NHSN criteria for infection when you follow SSIs, implants are followed for one year after surgery. If you look for a CDC paper titled 'Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Event' it is on page 9-8. She also included a web site for additional resources: http://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/

Traci Putman (Director, Surgical Services/Director of Nursing) at April 8, 2010 (2:30 pm)

CMS defers to the CDC Guidelines regarding surgical site infections. You can view these guidelines (not updated since 1999)by going to the CDC website and pull up "Guideline For Prevention of Surgical Site Infection". On page 252 it is clearly stated (in Table 1) "Infection occurs within 30 days after the operation if no implant is left in place or within 1 year if implant is in place and the infection appears to be related to the operation."

Pamelia P. (Administrator/Director/Manager/Owner/Exec. Officer) at April 1, 2010 (10:04 am)

I have also known to track implant patients for one year. But have also not seen any written regulation from any regulatory body about this. It seems to be a 'verbal passed down'directive. How can we find out where it came from. Our Surgeons are also not compliant in informing me.
Sharon Mayhew (Infection Control Practitioner, South Africa.

sharon mayhew (Other) at March 17, 2010 (3:14 am)

What are you doing for those physicians which decide to be non-compliant with filing their reports?

Stuart Katz (Administrator/Director/Manager/Owner/Exec. Officer) at March 9, 2010 (11:27 am)

Patient care should be the utmost concern in any facility.

Kenneth L. (Other) at March 5, 2010 (1:29 pm) [last edited on March 5, 2010 (1:35 pm)]

« Previous Page  Next Page »

Submit a response to this discussion topic

Please login to submit a response to this discussion topic.