Post-surgical infections are a significant drawback to the success witnessed in healthcare systems around the world. Also referred to as a surgical site infection (SSI), this infection can be conceptualized as a wound that requires between 7 to 10 days of operation (de Oliveira & Gama, 2017; Korol et al., 2013). This wound is capable of resulting in fatal complication and is often caused by contamination during the execution of incision procedures. These infections comprise the second most common infections in healthcare (de Oliveira & Gama, 2017). Between 2-3% of all clean surgery procedures result in post-surgery infections. Between 40-60% of these post-surgery infections can be avoided. These infections affect morbidity, resulting in poor patient outcomes, increase the cost of healthcare, and the likelihood of death (Korol et al., 2013). Prevention of post-surgical infections, though complex, can be accomplished by implementing various measures at different stages of surgery, notably the preoperative stage, intraoperative stage, and postoperative stage. This reflective journal is aimed at highlighting the knowledge and skills acquired throughout the course with regard to post-surgical infections. Nine key variables will be used in this reflection.
Reflections on post-surgical infections
New practice approaches
Post-surgical infections can be controlled through the adoption of emerging practices. However, current measures that foster comprehensive detection and prevention of healthcare-associated infections should be emphasized. Adoption of new methods that prove to be of positive impact with regard to preventing infection is a crucial step. With the continuous research that is being carried out in the medical field, various approaches have been found to reduce the percentage of SSIs. Firstly, in the preoperative phase of surgery, it is necessary to ensure skin antisepsis is upheld ( Maiwald & Chan , 2012 ). Healthcare facilities should formulate antisepsis protocol for all surgical patients, which may entail showering them with an antiseptic agent before surgery. The preoperative skin agent used should also be reviewed by a multidisciplinary team. Potential surgery patients should be enlightened on the appropriate way of applying the skin antiseptic agents using the teach-back method ( Gorski , 2017; Tartari et al., 2017 ). Another strategy is ensuring that the pre-surgery checklist is adhered to, to help comply with the set standards, guidelines and evidence-based practices aiming at reducing the infections of the site of surgery.
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Intraprofessional collaboration
Intra-professional collaboration is another key to achieving low infection rate after surgery. Surgery is carried out by different medical personnel such as doctors, nurses, anesthetists, physiotherapists, cleaners and security personnel. All these professionals should center their objectives in line with maintaining high sterility of the patient during and after the surgery ( Haney et al., 2017 ). For example, surgeons should be accompanied by a scrub nurse and a circulating nurse so that they minimize the level of contamination during a procedure. Receiving nurse should ensure that the recommended surgical checklist is marked and the patient is conversant with the operation and the role he has in maintaining sterility. Cleaners should strive to ensure the working environment is clean and meets the standards for an operating room.
Health care delivery and clinical systems
Healthcare delivery and clinical systems should be focused on promoting quality surgical procedures so as to prevent infections. Hospital with theaters should formulate a protocol to be followed in all activities entailing sterility. The protocol may entail different ways to sanitize hands effectively, the scrubbing process, and how to clean the area of surgery. The healthcare delivery system should focus on providing the necessary medical intervention so as to reduce on the days of hospital stay that pose a risk for contraction of post-surgical infections ( Saeed et al., 2017 ).
Ethical considerations in health care
Ethics and legal issues play a significant role in healthcare settings. Theatre is a crucial department of any healthcare facility. The government is in charge of all the ethical issues to consider in operation rooms through the formulation of appropriate policies (Gupta, 2012). In a bid to curb post-surgical infections, governments, through respective line ministries should devise steps to be followed during surgery. Nurses have ethical obligations to follow protocol while handling surgical patients to prevent infection ( Saeed et al., 2017 ). Nurses are obligated to meet the trust and corresponding duties to the patients when providing care in surgical settings.
Population health concerns and the role of technology
Post-surgical infections create a significant health concerns for the population. Better control of health issues affecting the population corresponds with better prognosis of post-surgical patients with regards to infection prevention. Technological advancements have enormously revamped the entire healthcare delivery system ( Omachonu & Einspruch , 2010). In theatre, technology has been applied in different areas to help curtail the spread of infection.
Firstly, technology has been used in the development of sterilization machines. These machines can now be controlled and set using computers. Secondly, technological innovations have seen the emergence of new surgical devices used in laparoscopy and endoscopy. Integration of technology has necessitated the formation of small incisions that are easily sutured and take less time to heal hence reducing the hospital stay of the patient.
Health policy
Infection prevention is a vital component of any healthcare facility’s functionality. Different organizations have formulated specific policies centered at promoting infection prevention that leads to post-surgical infections. The World Health Organization (WHO) has played a significant role in the formulation of such policies (WHO, 2018; Revelas, 2012). For instance, it has outlined the layout and structural design for the establishment of theatres. The required ventilation mechanisms are laid out in the policies on theatre ventilation. The design has to comply with the established policies to be ideal for use. All theatres are monitored, graded and certified by different bodies overseeing healthcare delivery. Proper enactment of set policies advocates for observation of sterility while in theatre and installation of functional resources that foster prevention of post-surgical infection.
Leadership and economic models
Leadership is crucial in control of post-surgical infection. The role of a nurse manager is evident in the overall operations of the theatre. The team leader is in charge of engaging all the surgical team and calling for adherence to the hospital policies and protocols for different procedures (Revelas, 2012). Likewise, the economy plays a crucial impact on the general well-being of a patient. Affordability of surgical instruments and supplies corresponds to quality healthcare that is centered at reducing post-surgical infections.
Health disparities
Preventable differences burden the opportunities available in pursuit of better healthcare. Most of the health disparities are contributed by unequal distribution of economic, social and other environmental resources. Factors that promote differences depicted in healthcare system include environmental threats, limited access to healthcare, inadequate financial resources, and educational inequalities. Patients who present with limited resources and knowledge deficit are likely to experience high incidences after the surgical process. Advanced education levels are associated with protective health behaviors and reduced levels of health risks.
Personal perspectives
Discoveries about professional practice
Throughout my professional practice, I have accrued a varied level of experiences. Generally, I have learnt that all my engagements at the clinical area should be aimed at reducing the transmission of microorganisms and advocating for a high level of sterility at all times. This is because many infections are as a result of exposure to the respective micro-organisms. Any professional is expected to adhere to government policies and hospital protocols that seek to enhance patient’s care and well-being.
Personal strengths and weaknesses
My adaptability has made me embrace different guidelines on various procedures. Likewise, my ability to work in multiple departments came in handy while attending to the patients. My knowledge on matters sterility created an enabling environment to guide the patient on the best action to take in preventing infection of the surgical site. Following rules played a crucial role in following implemented policies and observing protocols. These strengths resulted in the delivery of quality health services to post-surgical patients.
Some notable weaknesses include my strictness. Due to this, the associates I was allocated to work with found it hard coping up with my way of doing things. My desire to disseminate information caused me to spend more time with one patient, trying to enlighten him or her on issues of sterility. This may be disadvantageous in cases where many patients have to be attended. While working in the clinical setting, I also noticed that some surgeons were not team players. I found it hard to accommodate such individuals.
Additional resources and abilities
Resources play a crucial role in the delivery of quality health services. Allocation of adequate resources to post-surgical patients aids in enhancing adherence to governmental policies and facilitating the implementation of hospital protocols that uphold better services. Availability of enough human resources, for instance, would significantly impact on the service delivery hence reducing the chances of post-surgical infection. Availability of adequate team members means that all patients have qualified staff taking care of their medical needs. Acquisition of state of the art medical equipment plays a crucial role in promoting infection prevention. This is a critical adjustment that healthcare facilities should embrace due to its ability to promote faster and proper sterilization of surgical equipment.
Meeting required competencies
Students are expected to collaborate with different teams in both operation and post-surgical rooms. My ability to embrace the two groups was key in ensuring continuity of care of my patients. I achieved sterility by implementing the existing protocols and government policies regarding patients recovering from surgical procedures. Also, my openness to learning helped me to navigate through the course easily.
The safety of patients while in hospital is essential. Different departments play a vital role in meeting this objective. For patients in post-surgical condition, prevention of infections is crucial to their well-being. Sterility of surgical patient is a collective responsibility, with key players entailing the cleaners, nurses, surgeons, and anesthetists. The government can contribute to service delivery through the formulation of policies and allocation of resources. Healthcare system itself has a role to play in preventing infections. In particular, any healthcare system is responsible for developing protocols to be followed during service delivery. Well-developed protocols call for observation of sterility while serving all patients, especially those that have gone through surgery.
References
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Saeed, K. B., Greene, R. A., Corcoran, P., & O'Neill, S. M. (2017). Incidence of surgical site infection following caesarean section: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol. BMJ open , 7 (1), e013037.
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implementation approaches for evidence-based recommendations. Retrieved from https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/273154/9789241514385-eng.pdf?ua=1
