Better Preoperative Site Cleaning by Patients Can Reduce Surgical Infections

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. - Sept. 19, 2013 - PRLog -- Contact: Vicki Cohn, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., (914) 740-2100, ext. 2156, vcohn@liebertpub.com

Better Preoperative Site Cleaning by Patients Can Reduce Surgical Infections

New Rochelle, NY, September 19, 2013–Infection is the most common complication of surgery and occurs at a rate of 1-15%. A group of experts from the Surgical Infection Society recently convened to discuss how to optimize the preoperative surgical site cleaning done by the patient to minimize the risk of infection. This expert Roundtable accompanies the current issue of Surgical Infections, a peer-reviewed journal published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers (www.liebertpub.com). The Roundtable is available on the Surgical Infections website (www.liebertpub.com/sur).

The comprehensive discussion entitled “Preoperative Preparation to Avoid Surgical Site Infections” (http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/b825f52f#/b825f52f/1) covers a wide range of topics including the risk of infection in patients with diabetes who are morbidly obese or those who are underweight. Moderator Philip S. Barie, MD, MBA, Editor-in-Chief of Surgical Infections and Professor of Surgery and Public Health, Weill Cornell Medical College (New York, NY), also led a discussion on the use of prophylactic antibiotics and issues related to antibiotic resistance.

Expert panelists Kamal M.F. Itani, MD, Chief of Surgery, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, William G. Cheadle, MD, Associate Chief of Staff, Research, Development, and Resident Education, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Kentucky, and Donald E. Fry, MD, Professor Emeritus of Surgery, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, shared their opinions on which infectious microbes are of greatest concern in the surgical setting, and whether patients tend to perform preoperative preparations properly, including bowel cleansing for gastrointestinal procedures. The potential to improve patient compliance through mobile messaging, by sending patients voice or text reminders, is supported by clinical evidence.

The Roundtable was supported by an educational grant from CareFusion .

About the Journal
Surgical Infections is a comprehensive and authoritative peer-reviewed Journal published bimonthly online with Open Access options and in print. The Journal provides the most up-to-date information on the biology, prevention, and management of post-operative infections. Original articles cover the latest advances, new therapeutic management strategies, and translational research that is being applied to improve clinical outcomes and successfully treat post-operative infections. Surgical Infections is the Official Journal of the Surgical Infection Society (SIS), SIS-Europe, SIS-Latin America, and the Chinese Society of Surgical Infection and Intensive Care. Complete tables of content and a sample issue may be viewed on the Surgical Infections website (www.liebertpub.com/sur).

About the Publisher
Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers is a privately held, fully integrated media company known for establishing authoritative peer-reviewed journals in many promising areas of science and biomedical research, including Journal of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques and Microbial Drug Resistance. Its biotechnology trade magazine, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (GEN), was the first in its field and is today the industry’s most widely read publication worldwide. A complete list of the firm’s more than 70 journals, books, and newsmagazines is available on the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers website (www.liebertpub.com).