Three new studies that focused on preventing surgical site infections as a result of spine surgery were presented at North American Spine Society's annual meeting in Chicago, according to a NASS news release.
According to the report, incidence of complications following spine surgery is between 0.5 percent and 20 percent, which can cause physical, emotional and financial strain on patients and the healthcare system. These studies examined infection rates after spine surgery to identify the most appropriate protocol:
• One study compared administration of antibiotics until the patients drains were removed with administering just 24 hours of postoperative antibiotics to patients undergoing multilevel thoracolumbar spine surgery requiring a postoperative drain. Among the patients who received antibiotics for the duration, 13.8 percent developed SSI, compared with 12.1 percent of the patients in the 24-hour antibiotic group.
• Another study assessed the contamination rates of sterile microscope drapes for 25 surgical cases. Bacterial contamination of the operative microscope was significant after spine surgery, most commonly around the optic eyepieces. All regions above the eye pieces also had a propensity for contamination, potentially due to unknown contact with unsterile parts of the surgeon.
• The third study examined the effects of applying vancomycin powder in surgical wounds of patients treated for traumatic spine injuries. A retrospective review of 117 patients was conducted, and researchers found that no patients who received the vancomycin powder in addition to the IV systemic antibiotics developed post-operative infection.
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• One study compared administration of antibiotics until the patients drains were removed with administering just 24 hours of postoperative antibiotics to patients undergoing multilevel thoracolumbar spine surgery requiring a postoperative drain. Among the patients who received antibiotics for the duration, 13.8 percent developed SSI, compared with 12.1 percent of the patients in the 24-hour antibiotic group.
• Another study assessed the contamination rates of sterile microscope drapes for 25 surgical cases. Bacterial contamination of the operative microscope was significant after spine surgery, most commonly around the optic eyepieces. All regions above the eye pieces also had a propensity for contamination, potentially due to unknown contact with unsterile parts of the surgeon.
• The third study examined the effects of applying vancomycin powder in surgical wounds of patients treated for traumatic spine injuries. A retrospective review of 117 patients was conducted, and researchers found that no patients who received the vancomycin powder in addition to the IV systemic antibiotics developed post-operative infection.
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