title: Infection prevention and control in the operating theatre: reducing the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs).
abstract: Continuing advances in surgical techniques, asepsis, operating theatre protocols and ventilation systems that ensure an uninterrupted supply of clean air, should allow all patients to undergo both invasive and minimally-invasive procedures with reduced risk. Patients having surgery in the United Kingdom are probably less vulnerable to surgical site infections (SSIs) than ever before--despite persisting concerns about meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and increasing antibiotic resistance in other organisms such as vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE).
authors.affiliation: Infection Prevention and Control, University Hospitals of Morecambe. paul.weaving@mbht.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weaving
authors.forename: Felicia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: Sherran
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milton
mesh_terms: D001207:Asepsis / Q000379:methods; D019985:Benchmarking / Q000458:organization & administration; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D006235:Hand Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016294:Models, Nursing; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009871:Operating Room Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000451:nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D011159:Population Surveillance; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology