Surgical site infections and the surgical care improvement project (SCIP): evolution of national quality measures.
BACKGROUND
Surgical site infection (SSI) continues to be a common if often times preventable infection. Considerable patient morbidity and economic cost are the consequences.


METHODS
Review of the pertinent English-language literature.


RESULTS
The National Surgical Infection Prevention (SIP) Project was an initiative sponsored jointly by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to decrease the incidence of SSI in major surgical procedures. Three performance measures were developed to improve the timing of antibiotic administration and the selection of the drug and to reduce needless postoperative administration of antibiotics. The success of SIP led to the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP), which is expanding performance measures in the area of prevention of SSI, and also is undertaking preventive measures against postoperative venous thromboembolism and cardiac events. Federal legislation has required hospitals to report rates of compliance with many of these process measures.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgeons must use all documented strategies to prevent SSIs.
Fry
Donald E
DE
Department of Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA. dfry@m-pine.com
D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D014487:Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, U.S.; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D012052:Reimbursement, Incentive; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States