title: Process improvement plan for the reduction of sternal surgical site infections among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.
abstract: In an attempt to reduce sternal infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus, a protocol was introduced that included the administration of intranasal mupirocin calcium 2% before surgery to patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery. Surveillance data indicated a 55% reduction in the rate of deep sternal wound infections caused by S aureus and superficial sternal wound infections have declined from 25 to 6 since the adoption of the protocol. At the study institution, this protocol is now an ongoing process to reduce the incidence of sternal infections caused by S aureus among cardiothoracic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Control, Greenville Hospital System, Greenville, South Carolina 29605, USA.
authors.forename: Gwendolyn H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Usry
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: J John
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Weems
authors.forename: Dawn
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Blackhurst
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D002985:Clinical Protocols / Q000592:standards; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D016712:Mupirocin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000191:economics; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D016712:Mupirocin