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)

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I use the report piece of our software to track this. On the first of each month, I print out a copy of all the patients (and procedures) each surgeon has done and send it to them to fill in if there were were any surgical site infections and/or complications. I keep them all in a binder.

Kathleen LaCouture (Director, Surgical Services/Director of Nursing) at February 2, 2010 (11:02 am) [last edited on March 23, 2010 (7:58 am)]

We use a similar system of asking the surgeons for their reports but they are not always 100% compliant. We've tried faxing them, e-mailing and putting the forms in their boxes to complete while signing their charts. There is not a 100% full-proof answer.

Stuart Katz (Administrator/Director/Manager/Owner/Exec. Officer) at February 2, 2010 (11:57 am)

I USE THE MONTHLY REPORT OF THE SURGICAL PATIENTS FOR THE MONTH TO BE GIVEN TO EACH SURGEON. THIS SHEET IS GIVEN A MONTH POST IN ORDER TO CAPTURE AS MANY POST-OP VISITS AS POSSIBLE. THEN THE RESULTS OF INFECTION IS GIVEN TO THE INFECTION SUPPERVISOR TO FURTHER EVALUATE. IS THIS WHAT EVERYONE ELSE DOES A S A
FOLLOW- UP?

wENDY bOOZE (OR Manager/Supervisor) at March 1, 2010 (11:26 am)

we print out a monthly report for each surgeon and keep in a binder as well- we also developed a tracking form for implants in the back of the implant log book that our infection control nurse asks each surgeon each month while they are in the or and tracks it that way.K Merrill (Nurse Administrator)

K. Merrill (Director, Surgical Services/Director of Nursing) at March 2, 2010 (8:46 am) [last edited on March 2, 2010 (8:47 am)]

I too have the question about where it is mandated to follow patients with implants for 1 year....Is this a rumor or is it stated somewhere in a regulation. thanks!

Michelle P. (Director, Surgical Services/Director of Nursing) at March 3, 2010 (12:31 pm)

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)]

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)

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)

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 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)

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