General

You are interested or responsible
for general aspects of SSI
prevention in the operating
theatre, like surveillance and
structural conditions?

Then you are right here.
Take the opportunity to be
informed in a clear and simple
way!

Core Measures

In addition to recommendations targeted for specific groups of people and areas, there are general guidelines and established procedures for the prevention of surgical site infections that have an overarching character.

As it is our mission to support SSI prevention as comprehensive as possible, you will find here an overview of essential general measures.

Guideline-compliant. Compact. Illustrative. Expanded with 200 years of HARTMANNs expertise.

Hand Hygiene 
The specifications for hand hygiene include HOW (e.g. skin care, technique, fluids), but also WHEN (e.g. 5 moments), HOW OFTEN and WHO.

Get informed here…
Perioperative Surgical Antibiotic Prophylaxis (SAP)

A significant influence of a perioperative parenteral antibiotic prophylaxis is particularly detectable for e.g.:1

  • orthopaedic procedures with permanent implants
  • mammary surgery

Find out more about it…
Work attire and Personal Protective Equipment

Area clothing, masks, hair-coverings, protective goggles - the protection in the operating theatre has high priority and includes a number of measures…

… which are summarised here.

Surgical Hand Antisepsis 

Surgical hand disinfection must be performed by all those involved in the surgery before every procedure.1

But there is more to consider!
Discover more here…


Behavior of OR team

Protecting all staff involved and the patient during the surgical procedure begins before entering the operating room – e.g. with removing jewellery and covering hair.

See what SSI prevention should start with...


Surveillance

Every surgical department or ambulatory surgical centre must participate in the surveillance of SSI.1

Find this and other aspects here…

Structural Conditions 

In addition to adequate facility, what else is critical in terms of structural conditions to reduce SSI?

Answers to this and other questions you find here…

Bundle Measures

For the prevention of SSI, it has proven effective to combine particularly important measures into a bundle of measures, to train on the bundle, and to monitor compliance with the bundle in the form of self-monitoring.1

Find new ideas here to combine measures and more…

Preoperative Patient Skin Antisepsis

Depending on the upcoming procedure and the patient's colonisation, a patient preparation checklist includes…

a manageable list of fixed and variable items.

Surgical Team Preparation

Do you have a standardized practice to prepare for surgical procedures?

Find guidance here.

OR Basics

Even apparent and self-evident facts in the prevention of SSI should be regularly refreshed and communicated.

Use a compact bundle for this.

References:
1. NICE (2019) Surgical site infections: prevention and treatment. NICE guidelines. Published 11 April 2019. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng125.
2. KRINKO (2018) Prävention postoperativer Wundinfektionen. Empfehlungen der Kommission für Krankenhaushygiene und Infektionsprävention (KRINKO) beim Robert Koch-Institut. Bundesgesundheitsbl 61: 448–473.
3. WHO. Global guidelines for the prevention of surgical site infection. World Health Organization 2016.

Measures at a Glance

Surgical site infection prevention is a task in which different sections are involved.
Find here all relevant measures and information per perspective to create your individual infection prevention bundle!
For an easier daily routine with infection prevention.

Surgery & Procedure

  • Surgical Hand Antisepsis
  • Surgical gloves and surgical attire
  • Surgical Site Preparation
  • Surgical Irrigation
  • Surgical Wound
  • Equipment
  • Wound Drain
  • Further recommendations

OR Team

  • Behavior of OR team
  • Work attire and Personal Protective Equipment
  • Surgical Hand Antisepsis
  • Surgical gloves and attire
  • Surgical Site Preparation
  • Surgical irrigation
  • Hand Hygiene
  • Surgical wound
  • Further recommendations

Patient

  • Preoperative bathing
  • Patient clothing
  • Hair removal
  • Mechanical bowel preparation and use of oral antibiotics
  • Decolonization of Staphylococcus aureus carriage
  • Further recommendations

Cleaning & Disinfection

  • Surface Cleaning
  • Surface Disinfection
  • Equipment

Anesthetist & Team

  • Work attire and Personal Protective Equipment
  • Patient Perioperative Warming
  • Perioperative surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP)
  • Behavior of OR team
  • Hand Hygiene
  • Further recommendations

General

  • Hand Hygiene
  • Perioperative surgical antibiotic prophylaxis (SAP)
  • Work attire and Personal Protective Equipment
  • Surgical Hand Antisepsis
  • Behavior of OR team
  • Surveillance
  • Structural Conditions