39. Antimicrobial Dressing Silver Foam Dressing Silver Foam Dressing Absorbs 96 grams of fluid Does not adhere to steri-strips or skin Silicone makes it easy to lift for inspection and will not tear skin layers
Aqua Cel silver dressings after spine and shoulder surgery Additional annual cost: $25,843
Chlorhexidine antiseptic wash (Bactoshield) for pre-op shower Annual cost: $10,639 Chlorhexidine swabs for central line insertion site (Chloraprep) Use clippers rather than razors to remove hair at incision site Annual cost: $8,175
Iodophor/alcohol surgical prep is used – we evaluated the tinted CHG but surgeons did not like the product due to Its green color and inability to adhere the barrier drapes to the skin as well as the iodophor product – this is a big Issue for orthopedic surgeons
We conducted another anonymous surveillance culture study in Feb 2006 – 133 spine patients noses were cultured in the OR 29% grew out Staph aureus and 4% were positive for MRSA – which was undiagnosed and therefore surgical prophylaxis with Vancomycin was not administered and no precautions were used in the OR, PACU or nursing units. These patients may also Have been discharged to a rehab facility with no flagging for precautions.
Data is indicating an increase in product use Some confounding variables: nurses discarding empty dispensers at nurses station use of hand wipes for computers on wheels – forgot to include in data collection patients taking dispensers home at discharge