Surgical Site Infection Prevention Flashcards

Which scoring system is used to stratify SSI risk for NHSN comparative reporting?

Answer: NNIS Risk Index

The NNIS Risk Index combines ASA physical status score, wound classification, and operative duration to stratify SSI risk for standardized comparison.

What is the recommended approach for SSI surveillance according to NHSN methodology?

Answer: Post-discharge surveillance combined with inpatient monitoring

NHSN recommends combining inpatient monitoring with post-discharge surveillance because many SSIs become apparent only after hospital discharge.

What is the recommended minimum duration for the surgical hand scrub using traditional antimicrobial soap?

Answer: 2 to 5 minutes

A 2–5 minute scrub is recommended for effective reduction of transient and resident hand flora prior to surgery, shorter than historical practice.

Which practice is currently recommended to reduce SSI risk in colorectal surgery?

Answer: Mechanical bowel preparation combined with oral antibiotics

The combination of mechanical bowel preparation with oral antibiotics significantly reduces colorectal SSI rates compared to either method alone.

What is the purpose of risk-stratified SSI rates in infection prevention benchmarking?

Answer: Allow fair comparison of SSI rates across facilities with different patient populations

Risk-stratified rates adjust for patient risk factors, enabling valid comparison of SSI rates between facilities that serve populations with differing health statuses.

Which type of surgical incise drape provides antimicrobial benefit at the wound edge during procedures?

Answer: Iodine-impregnated adhesive incise drapes

Iodine-impregnated adhesive drapes release antiseptic at the skin-wound interface throughout the procedure, reducing microbial contamination of the operative field.