Running head: FINAL PROJECT 1
Final Project
Joe Blow
BSN 495
Nightingale College
, Final Project 2
Final Project
Health-care associated infections (HAIs) are an alarming and disturbing trend in
medicine that describes a class of infections acquired by patients during medical care. Many
HAIs spread despite proper glove use by healthcare providers, as infections can spread from the
surfaces of gloves. According to Allegranzi & Pittet (2009), “As a consequence, HCWs
contaminate their hands by touching the environment or patients' skin during routine care
activities, sometimes even despite glove use” (Allegranzi & Pittet, 2009). In modern healthcare,
many facilities have introduced protocol into place to limit the prevalence of these infections,
with extremely variable rates of success. Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) represent a category of
HAIs that are currently on the rise, suggesting a critical need for the adaptation of effective
protocols. Surgical site infections are an interesting class of infections, as these of not always
appear at the surgical sit or even in the same area of surgical intervention. Furthermore, these
infections represent a broad range of illness. According to Dellinger (2012), “Common features
of many surgical infections include transgression of an epithelial barrier (either skin or
gastrointestinal, respiratory, or urologic epithelium) by a surgeon, trauma, tumor, or ischemia, or
obstruction of a hollow organ as may occur with an appendicolith, a bowel obstruction, a
common bile duct stone, or a ureteral stone (Dellinger, 20120). Although a variety of techniques
existing regarding SSI reduction, research shows that many simple methods to lower the
incidence of SSI often go overlooked. Ultimately, the primary question is this: Over the course of
6 months, how will strong evidence-based practice guided interventions affect the rates of
Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) in post-surgical patients of all ages?
Final Project
Joe Blow
BSN 495
Nightingale College
, Final Project 2
Final Project
Health-care associated infections (HAIs) are an alarming and disturbing trend in
medicine that describes a class of infections acquired by patients during medical care. Many
HAIs spread despite proper glove use by healthcare providers, as infections can spread from the
surfaces of gloves. According to Allegranzi & Pittet (2009), “As a consequence, HCWs
contaminate their hands by touching the environment or patients' skin during routine care
activities, sometimes even despite glove use” (Allegranzi & Pittet, 2009). In modern healthcare,
many facilities have introduced protocol into place to limit the prevalence of these infections,
with extremely variable rates of success. Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) represent a category of
HAIs that are currently on the rise, suggesting a critical need for the adaptation of effective
protocols. Surgical site infections are an interesting class of infections, as these of not always
appear at the surgical sit or even in the same area of surgical intervention. Furthermore, these
infections represent a broad range of illness. According to Dellinger (2012), “Common features
of many surgical infections include transgression of an epithelial barrier (either skin or
gastrointestinal, respiratory, or urologic epithelium) by a surgeon, trauma, tumor, or ischemia, or
obstruction of a hollow organ as may occur with an appendicolith, a bowel obstruction, a
common bile duct stone, or a ureteral stone (Dellinger, 20120). Although a variety of techniques
existing regarding SSI reduction, research shows that many simple methods to lower the
incidence of SSI often go overlooked. Ultimately, the primary question is this: Over the course of
6 months, how will strong evidence-based practice guided interventions affect the rates of
Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) in post-surgical patients of all ages?
