Antibiotic Given at the Right Time
Percent of surgical patients given an antibiotic to prevent infections within 1 hour of surgery.
Those patients who need antibiotics and get them within 1 hour of their surgery are less likely to get infections after surgery.
Higher percentage is better:
Right Kind of Antibiotic Given
Percent of surgery patients who were prescribed the right kind of antibiotic for their surgery.
Certain antibiotics are recommended for certain surgeries. When the recommended antibiotic is given, the risk of infection is less.
Higher percentage is better:
Antibiotic Stopped at the Right Time
Percent of surgery patients whose antibiotic was stopped within 24 hours after surgery. Taking antibiotics for more than 24 hours after surgery is not necessary. When antibiotics are given for a longer time, side effects may occur, including infections with a bacteria that cannot be treated with the antibiotic.
Higher percentage is better:
Patient’s Temperature is monitored during their Operation and after Surgery
Percentage of surgery patients whose temperature is equal to or greater than 96.8°F. Core temperatures outside the normal range pose a risk in all patients undergoing surgery. Research has identified a correlation between unintended hypothermia and impaired wound healing, adverse cardiac events, altered drug metabolism and coagulopathies. One study has shown that the incidence of culture-positive surgical site infections among those with mild perioperative hypothermia was three times higher than the normothermic perioperative patients.
Blood Clot (Venous ThromboEmblosim VTE) Prevention Received at the Right Time
Percent of surgery patients who received the right treatment to prevent blood clots at the right time (within 24 hours before or after surgery). Certain surgeries increase the risk that a patient will have a blood clot in a blood vessel in their legs which could move to their lungs. If blood thinners and/or mechanical air stockings are used, these patients have fewer blood clots. Blood thinners and/or mechanical air stockings need to be used as close to the surgery time as possible. This is when patients move less and are more likely to have blood clots.
Higher percentage is better:
