Prevention of

Post-
Operative
Infections
By: Lauren Hinojosa, HST Independent Study Tongro Images, “Digital Image”. CDC, National Institute
Mentorship- 1st semester, Fall 2018, Mrs. Click
for Occupational Safety and Health, 2016,
www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bbp/controls.html
Disclaimer

 Some information is taken from outside

sources
Mentor: Rachel Beaman

 My mentor is Rachel Beaman, BSN, RN.

 She is a med-surg nurse at UTMB League City Campus.
 She studied nursing at UTMB medical school.
 She has her ACLS and BLS.
 She worked as a vet tech before she decided to
begin nursing.
 She worked at the Galveston UTMB Family Medicine
Unit from 2013-2016.
Mentorship Site

 My mentorship site is the

UTMB League City Campus
Hospital, Med-surg unit.
 The campus itself is
continuously expanding, it
now has an M.D. Anderson
outpatient center.
 There are 20 med-surg
patient rooms.
 There are 10 operating UTMB League City Campus Dedication. UTMB Health,
rooms. www.utmb.edu/league-city-campus/dedication2016
HST Independent
Study Mentorship
 Independent Study Mentorship is a
collegiate level course in which students
are expected to complete professional
work.
 Students must meet with their mentor 3
hours each week and submit weekly
activity logs and journals.
 Students are responsible for creating their
own professional level research project.
 Students have the freedom to research
what interests them most in their
preferred field of work.
Why I chose Prevention of
Post-Operative Infections

 I chose the topic of preventing post-

operative infections because most of the
patients my mentor sees are in recovery
from surgery.
 These recent post-operative patients are
always given antibiotics whether it be
orally, intravenously, or both.
 I wanted to learn more about when and
why PPE is used.
 The techniques used to prevent infection
after surgery intrigued me.
 Key Points

1.) Different types of PPE

and when they are used

5.) Personal standards of

cleanliness (ex. Washing 2.) Cleanliness/sterilization
hands/using hand sanitizer standards for post-surgical
before you examine a patients’ rooms
patient)

3.) Precautions taken when

4.) Wound dressings and performing a procedure
antibiotics (ex. Cleaning drains,
changing IVs, etc.)
Healthcare worker putting on gloves. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, The National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health,
www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bbp/controls.html
 Key Point #1: Different
Types of PPE and When
They are Used
 PPE is used to prevent the spread of
communicable disease among
healthcare workers.
 If a patient is in isolation, a sign will be
posted that lists the required PPE to be
worn in the room.
 Face masks are worn if the patient has a
potentially infectious disease.
 Gloves should always be worn when
examining the patient.

Healthcare worker wearing full PPE. Quora, Todd Washko,

www.quora.com/How-can-a-pediatrician-protect-
himself-from-kids-with-contagious-diseases
Key Point #2: Cleanliness
Standards for Post-
operative Patients’ Hospital
Rooms

 Each room must be

cleaned from top to
bottom before another
patient can be admitted to
stay in it.
 Environmental Services (ES)
must wear PPE when
cleaning a room that may
have been contaminated.
 Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) approved
disinfectant must always be Misovic, Kathleen. Healthcare workers cleaning a hospital hallway.
used. Cleaning and Maintenance Management, 29 Jan. 2018,
www.cmmonline.com/articles/cleaning-tips-to-reduce-health-
care-acquired-infections
Key Point #3:
Precautions taken when
performing a procedure

 Gloves must always be worn

when checking a patient.
 Gloves and gowns should
always be worn if contact
with body fluids is
anticipated.
 If a patient is in isolation or is
thought to have a potentially
infectious disease, face
masks should be used.
 Face shields are worn to
protect the mucous
membranes.
Healthcare worker putting on gloves. Stericycle, 01 Oct. 2014,
www.stericycle.com/blog/personal-protective-equipment-facts
Key Point #4: Wound
Dressings and
Antibiotics
 Post-operative medications are
commonly administered
intravenously.
 Saline is used as a flush.
 Then, fluids or antibiotics are hooked
up the IV port and hung on an IV
pole.
 Tape and gauze are used to secure
IV ports.
 If the patient has sores or open
wounds, sterile bandages are used
to cover it.

A person receiving medication via intravenous

therapy. Wikipedia,
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intravenous_therapy
Key Point #5: Personal
Standards of Cleanliness
 You must always wash your hands or use
hand sanitizer before entering a patient’s
room.
 Nails should be trimmed so bacteria
can’t grow underneath.
 Gloves should always be worn when
touching a patient.
 Long hair should be out of the face and
pulled back.
Research
Topics
1.) Cleanliness standards for
hospital rooms
2.) Different types of PPE and
when they are used.
3.) Wound dressings and
antibiotics.
Cleanliness
standards for
hospital rooms
 TV remote, nurse call device,
and cord must be cleaned.
 All high touch areas (ex.
tabletops, door handles, light
switches) should be
thoroughly disinfected.
 When the bathroom is being
cleaned, the highest point
should be the first place
cleaned and the toilet should
be the last.
 Privacy curtains must be
changed.
 All clinical equipment must Faust, Michelle. Jeanna Hilbert scrubs all the surfaces in a hospital
go to the sterile processing room to prevent the spread of C-diff. WXXI News, 24 Mar. 2016,
department.
http://www.wxxinews.org/post/how-hospital-s-cleaning-staff-
can-help-save-your-life
Different types
of PPE
 Gloves are used to prevent
the spread of infectious
organisms through touch.
 Face masks are worn when
a patient has an infectious
disease or is expected to
cough up fluids.
 Face shields and gowns are
worn when exposure to
body fluids is expected.
 All PPE is single-use and
should be disposed of
immediately after use.
Image of 3 women wearing protective gowns.
Precept, preceptmed.com/products/ppe-
gowns/
Post-Operative
Antibiotics
 The most commonly used
post-operative antibiotics are
Ancef and Kefzol
 Other common post-surgical
antibiotics are Levocin and
Zosyn.
 If the patient is allergic to
cephalosporin antibiotics,
vancomycin ones may be
substituted instead.
 Antibiotic prophylaxis is highly
recommended after
orthopedic and
gastrointestinal procedures.
Kirby, Neal. Open bottle with pills spilling out. Times Live, 15 June
2017, www.timeslive.co.za/news/2017-06-15-a-new-regulatory-
br-regime-for-medicines-br-comes-into-force-in-sa/
Current Event: “1 in 10 Gets
Wound Infection After
Abdominal Surgery”
 A study led in February of 2018 led by Dr.
Ewen Harrison found that the overuse of
pre-operative antibiotics increases the
chance of a post-operative infection
because over time.
 This is because the bacteria becomes
resistant.
 Hospital stays for patients who developed
surgical site infections averaged about 3
times longer than stays for patients who did
not get an infection.
 Wealthy countries had the lowest rate of
infection, 9%, compared to a rate of 23% in Lundgren, Jeri. Photograph of medical supplies used to
low-income countries. clean and cover wounds. Wound Care Advisor,
woundcareadvisor.com/how-to-set-up-an-effective-
wound-care-formulary-and-guideline_vol2-no4/
Product:
Timeline
 For my product I will create
a timeline using Timetoast.
 It will show the
advancements made in
prevention of infections
since the beginnings of
surgery.
 It will also show the
progress made in
sterilization and
precautionary measures
such as PPE or confinement
standards (isolation).

https://www.timetoast.com/time Timetoast logo. Crossroads Lesson Design,

lines/1907837 ctl.mesacc.edu/crossroads/timetoast/
Conclusion

 I feel a lot more knowledgeable about

the subject of infection prevention after
completing this project.
 It helped me to understand why there
are so many precautions in place to
avoid the spread of infectious diseases.
 I learned that everyone is responsible for
infection prevention in the hospital
setting.

Nurse holding a clipboard. Nursing License Map,

nursinglicensemap.com/advanced-practice-
nursing/orthopedic-nurse-practitioner-onc/
 Thank You’s
 Thank you to Rachel for letting
me shadow her while she works,
as well as being helpful and
cooperative with homework
assignments.
 Thank you to my evaluators, Mrs.
Lynch and Mr. Johnston, for
taking time out of their
schedules to be here and
watch my presentation.
 Thank you to Mrs. Click, for
guiding me throughout the
semester and helping me
improve my project.
 Thank you to my parents, for
supporting me as I balance
school and mentorship.
 Thank you to Mckinna, for
filming today.
Works Cited
Palmer, John. “5 Types of PPE and How Your Staff Is Misusing Them.” Patient Safety
and Quality Healthcare, 2016, www.psqh.com/app/uploads/2016/12/Palmer-
nurse_web.jpg.
“Our Facilites and Maps to Locations.” Psychosocial Development, UTMB, 2018,
www.utmb.edu/surgery/plastic/facilities.asp.
“Introducing ENIL's Independent Living Research Network.” ENIL – European
Network on Independent Living, European Network on Independent Living, 26
Jan. 2018, enil.eu/news/introducing-enils-independent-living-research-
network/.
O'Keefe, Elissa. “New Infection Control Requirements for Queensland Laser License
Application.” Bravura Education, Bravura Education, 9 Nov. 2016,
www.bravura.edu.au/blogs/news/infection-control-requirements-for-
queensland-application-for-a-licence-to-use-laser-apparatus-cosmetic-
purposes-trainee.
“Timetoast.” The Center for Teaching and Learning,
ctl.mesacc.edu/crossroads/timetoast/.
“BLOODBORNE INFECTIOUS DISEASES: HIV/AIDS, HEPATITIS B, HEPATITIS C.” Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 11 Oct. 2016, www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/bbp/controls.html.
Works Cited
Preidt, Robert. “1 In 10 Worldwide Gets Wound Infection After Abdominal Surgery.”
U.S. News & World Report, U.S. News & World Report, 2018,
health.usnews.com/health-care/articles/2018-02-15/1-in-10-worldwide-gets-
wound-infection-after-abdominal-surgery.
30, Nov. “Patient Room Cleaning Protocol.” Infection Control Today, 22 Nov. 2017,
www.infectioncontroltoday.com/environmental-hygiene/patient-room-
cleaning-protocol.
“Infection Control and Prevention - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).” Wisconsin
Department of Health Services, 30 Oct. 2017,
www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ic/ppe.htm.
Woods, Ronald K., and E. Patchen Dellinger. “Current Guidelines for Antibiotic
Prophylaxis of Surgical Wounds.” American Family Physician, 1 June 1998,
www.aafp.org/afp/1998/0601/p2731.html.
“Preventing Surgical-Site Infections.” American Nurse Today, American Nurse
Today, 13 June 2017, www.americannursetoday.com/preventing-surgical-site-
infections/.
Masika, Moses. “A Shorter Dose of Antibiotics Is Adequate for Preventing Surgical
Site Infections.” The Conversation, The Conversation, 19 Sept. 2018,
theconversation.com/a-shorter-dose-of-antibiotics-is-adequate-for-preventing-
surgical-site-infections-79358.