New WHO recommendations on preoperative measures for surgical site infection prevention: an evidence-based global perspective.

Allegranzi B; Bischoff P; de Jonge S; Kubilay NZ; Zayed B; Gomes SM; Abbas M; Atema JJ; Gans S; van Rijen M; Boermeester MA; Egger M; Kluytmans J; Pittet D; Solomkin JS

doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(16)30398-X

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Journal article

New WHO recommendations on preoperative measures for surgical site infection prevention: an evidence-based global perspective.

Allegranzi B Infection Prevention and Control Global Unit, Service Delivery and Safety, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland. Electronic address: allegranzib@who.int.
Bischoff P Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Charité-University Medicine, Berlin, Germany.
de Jonge S Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Kubilay NZ Infection Prevention and Control Global Unit, Service Delivery and Safety, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland.
Zayed B Infection Prevention and Control Global Unit, Service Delivery and Safety, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland.
Gomes SM OASIS Global, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
Abbas M Infection Control Programme, University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
Atema JJ Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Gans S Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
van Rijen M Amphia Hospital Breda, Breda, Netherlands.
Boermeester MA Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Egger M Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Kluytmans J Amphia Hospital Breda, Breda, Netherlands; University Medical Center Utrecht, Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Pittet D Infection Control Programme, University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland; WHO Collaborating Centre on Patient Safety (Infection Control and Improving Practices), University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland.
Solomkin JS OASIS Global, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.

2016-11-07

Published in:

The Lancet. Infectious diseases. - 2016

English Surgical site infections (SSIs) are among the most preventable health-care-associated infections and are a substantial burden to health-care systems and service payers worldwide in terms of patient morbidity, mortality, and additional costs. SSI prevention is complex and requires the integration of a range of measures before, during, and after surgery. No international guidelines are available and inconsistencies in the interpretation of evidence and recommendations of national guidelines have been identified. Given the burden of SSIs worldwide, the numerous gaps in evidence-based guidance, and the need for standardisation and a global approach, WHO decided to prioritise the development of evidence-based recommendations for the prevention of SSIs. The guidelines take into account the balance between benefits and harms, the evidence quality, cost and resource use implications, and patient values and preferences. On the basis of systematic literature reviews and expert consensus, we present 13 recommendations on preoperative preventive measures.

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