Surgical Site Infection Prevention Following Spine Surgery.

TitleSurgical Site Infection Prevention Following Spine Surgery.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2020
AuthorsAleem IS, Tan LA, Nassr A, K Riew D
JournalGlobal Spine J
Volume10
Issue1 Suppl
Pagination92S-98S
Date Published2020 Jan
ISSN2192-5682
Abstract

Study Design: Literature review.

Objectives: Surgical site infection (SSI) following spine surgery leads to significant patient morbidity, mortality, and increased health care costs. The purpose of this article is to identify risk factors and strategies to prevent SSIs following spine surgery, with particular focus on avoiding infections in posterior cervical surgery.

Methods: We performed a literature review and synthesis to identify methods that can be used to prevent the development of SSI following spine surgery. Specific pearls for preventing infection in posterior cervical spine surgery are also presented.

Results: SSI prevention can be divided into patient and surgeon factors. Preoperative patient factors include smoking cessation, tight glycemic control, weight loss, and nutrition optimization. Surgeon factors include screening and treatment for pathologic microorganisms, skin preparation using chlorhexidine and alcohol, antimicrobial prophylaxis, hand hygiene, meticulous surgical technique, frequent irrigation, intrawound vancomycin powder, meticulous multilayered closure, and use of closed suction drains.

Conclusion: Prevention of SSI following spine surgery is multifactorial and begins with careful patient selection, preoperative optimization, and meticulous attention to numerous surgical factors. With careful attention to various patient and surgeon factors, it is possible to significantly reduce SSI rates following spine surgery.

DOI10.1177/2192568219844228
Alternate JournalGlobal Spine J
PubMed ID31934527
PubMed Central IDPMC6947685