Hospital Acquired Infections

Dr. Taylor and his team are extremely concerned regarding your potential risks for hospital acquired infections. Dr. Taylor feels that frequently these hospital acquired infections may be preventable. For this reason, there are a number of precautions we take, as well, we would ask you to assist us in decreasing your risk of these infections. Hospital acquired infections are increasing in frequency. The type of bacteria which affects patients in their hospital stay are frequently resistant to multiple antibiotics causing a significant health risk. For this reason, we would ask that: 1) You purchase a Hibiclens chlorohexidene soap which you can wash your skin [in the region of your surgery], once daily, for 7 days prior to your surgery. As well, please request that all healthcare providers that contact you during your hospital stay wash their hands and/or wear clean, newly placed gloves prior to contacting you. We will ask all the healthcare providers to comply with this request. If you find that a healthcare provider does not comply with this request, please notify Dr. Taylor or his nurse, Lori Burke, immediately and we will address this problem. During your hospital stay other steps will be taken to prevent hospital acquired infections. During the surgical procedure we will clean the skin around the surgical site with multiple agents to decrease the risk of bacterial infection during the surgical procedure. If hair removal is required, we will use electric clippers instead of a razor. The operation will be done as quickly and safely as possible to decrease the surgical time which is associated with infection. We will change our outer gloves throughout the procedure to decrease your infection risk.

Postoperatively the wound will be covered with a dressing which Dr. Taylor feels will decrease the risk of bacteria entering the wound. This is an impermeable sheet of material which is transparent. This allows us to visualize the wound. As well, it allows a barrier to be placed between the surgical site and the outside environment. This dressing will only be changed by one of the physicians on Dr. Taylor’s team or his nurse, Lori Burke. No other healthcare provider should contact or try to change your dressings during your hospital stay. As well, after your initial dressing is changed and the wound is inspected, we will re-apply a barrier dressing and this will remain on the wound until you are instructed to remove it after surgery. We will also provide you antibiotics prior and during surgery as is our. Dr. Taylor feels that hospital acquired infections are a significant problem and he takes this problem seriously. We have a number of a steps implemented to decrease your risk of these infections. As well, please note you are at increased risk for infection if you use cigarettes or use tobacco products including nicotine gum and chewing tobacco. You are at increase risk for infection if you have diabetes or other medical problems such as rheumatoid arthritis. Certain medications will increase your risk of infection such as steroids. As well, obesity is a significant risk factor for infection. Please discuss all questions with Dr. Taylor’s team regarding the risk of hospital acquired infections. We will gladly discuss this with you and you should clearly understand your risk of an infection prior to consenting to a surgical procedure.