title: Prophylaxis and management of wound infections after elective colorectal surgery: a survey of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons membership.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Postoperative wound infections are a widespread and costly problem, especially in colorectal surgery. Despite their prevalence, there are few data regarding appropriate management and prevention strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  In order to assess current attitudes and practices about this subject, and as a guide to designing a randomized trial to gather evidence in order to support data-driven protocol development, an e-mail survey was sent to the membership of the American Society of Colorectal Surgeons to assess current attitudes and practices pertaining to prevention and management of wound infections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most respondents estimated that the wound infection rate in their own patients was much lower than commonly reported in the literature. Use of evidence-based perioperative strategies for reducing wound infection, such as the use of a wound protector, hyperoxygenation, and implementation of the Surgical Care Improvement Project guidelines, were far from universal. Management strategies varied widely, without apparent rational basis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the practices and beliefs in the surgical community, it is our hope that a multi-institutional study can be carried out to objectify best practices in both the effective and cost-effective management of this common condition and to reduce the wide variation in the treatment of surgical site infections.
authors.affiliation: Swedish Colon & Rectal Clinic, 1101 Madison, Seattle, WA 98104, USA.
authors.forename: Katharine W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Markell
authors.forename: Ben M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Charron
authors.forename: Rodney J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kratz
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: John T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Isler
authors.forename: Scott R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: Richard P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Billingham
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D003625:Data Collection; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States
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