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GUIDELINES SURGICAL SITE : REDUCING YOUR RISK

A surgical site infection is a Stanford & is committed to implementing strategies to improve risk with any type of surgery. surgical care and to reduce the risk of You can take steps to reduce surgical site . your risk of surgical site We want your surgical experience at Stanford Hospital & Clinics to be positive. infection and complications. That experience includes educational • Talk with your healthcare provider materials that describe the process of your about your risk of infection and review surgery and the measures we take to ensure your safety. It is especially important to steps you can take to reduce your reduce the risk of infection. risk prior to the procedure. These are general guidelines. You will • Know the signs and symptoms be provided with more specific instructions of surgical site infection. related to your surgery before your discharge from the hospital. • Know how to reduce your risk while you are in the hospital.

INFECTION PREVENTION stanfordhospital.org stanfordhospital.org PRIOR TO DAY OF AFTER SURGERY SURGERY SURGERY

KEY POINTS HEALTHCARE TEAMS’ ROLE IN PREVENTION After your surgery and hospital stay, it is Tell your healthcare provider about other • Your may use electric clippers to important to watch for any changes in your medical problems you may have. Factors remove some of your hair before surgery. symptoms. Call your immediately or such as diabetes, obesity, smoking and some • Your surgical team will apply a skin go to the nearest emergency room if you are could affect your surgery and immediately before the surgery experiencing any of the following symptoms: your treatment. • If ordered by your surgeon, you will receive CHECK DAILY FOR: 1. Begin as soon as possible to make changes in the operating room. • Surgical site redness, tenderness, to reduce your surgical risk: • Throughout your hospital stay, your and/or warmth • Quit smoking healthcare team will practice hand to • Excessive bright red or pus-like drainage at • Maintain a good nutrition and exercise minimize the risk of infection. surgical site program WHAT YOU CAN DO • Chills or of 100.4 degrees (38˚C) • Diabetic should work with their • Tell your healthcare provider if you have or greater primary healthcare provider to gain control symptoms of respiratory or other infection. Practicing good hand hygiene is one of the of blood sugar levels • Do not shave near the area where you will most important ways to reduce the spread • Discuss medications that may need to be have surgery. Shaving with a razor can irritate of infection. adjusted before surgery. These may include your skin and make it easier to develop an It is especially important to clean your hands blood thinners, diabetes medications and infection. before and after touching any surgical anti-inflammatory, immunosuppressant or surgical site. medications like steroids. 24 HOURS AFTER SURGERY • Family and friends should clean their hands 24 HOURS BEFORE SURGERY with alcohol gel or soap and water before and gluconate (CHG) is a skin cleanser after visiting you. used for patients undergoing surgery to reduce • Expect anyone who has contact with or cares the risk of infection. You will be instructed to for you in the hospital to practice hand hygiene. use a CHG sponge in the shower the night before and morning of surgery. On your day of • Family or friends who visit should not touch surgery, the staff will confirm that you your surgical wound or dressing. have taken the shower with CHG. • Before you go home, your doctor or nurse will explain everything you need to know about caring for your wound.