Targeted monitoring of surgical site infections due to esophageal cancer surgery

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the related factors of esophageal surgical site infections(SSI),the use of perioperative antimicrobial agents and the effect on infection control after taking interventions so as to control the incidence of SSI and standardize the use of antibiotics during the perioperative period.METHODS By means of the prospective survey,the surgical sites and the related risk factors were evaluated every day by the hospital infection professional personnel with pre-designed urgical incision questionnaire.The survey consisted of two stages:Jan-Jun 2011 for the assessment stage and Jul-Dec for the intervention stage.The interventions were performed in response to the risk factors detected in the first stage,the sustained changes during the two stages were compared,and the effects after taking the interventions were evaluated.RESULTS Of totally 323 esophageal cancer patients monitored from Jan to Dec,2011,SSI occurred in 9 patients with the infection rates of 2.79%.The use of antibiotics during the second stage was significantly standardized as compared with the first stage.The utilization rate of antibiotics 30min-2 h before surgery increased from 62.18% in the first stage to 92.22% in the second stage.The utilization rats of antibiotics 49-72 h after the surgery increased from 2.56% in the first stage to 4.19% in the second stage,and the utilization rate of antibiotics more than 72 h after the surgery decreased from 97.44% in the first stage to 95.81% in the second stage.The utilization rate of three-drug declined from 8.97% in the first stage to 2.99% in the second stage.CONCLUSION The targeted monitoring of SSI of esophageal cancer surgery can effectively reduce the incidence of SSI and make the use of antibiotics significantly standardized.