title: Cultivating quality: reducing surgical site infections in children undergoing cardiac surgery.
abstract: At Children's Hospital Boston, the cardiovascular operating room nurses led an initiative aimed at reducing surgical site infections (SSIs) in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. After first standardizing how skin preparation was performed, the nurses sought to determine which agents might be most effective. A literature review yielded relevant research; a survey of other pediatric surgery centers was also conducted. Based on what they learned, the nurses were able to recommend, implement, and evaluate a practice change. This has resulted in reduced SSI rates and improved patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. patricia.galvin@childrens.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galvin
mesh_terms: D019840:2-Propanol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000451:nursing*; D002648:Child; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009871:Operating Room Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D011367:Professional Staff Committees / Q000458:organization & administration; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D011206:Povidone-Iodine; D019840:2-Propanol