Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - British Volume · 2005 · 40 citations · 23 references
Veterinary MedicineOrthopaedic SurgeryOrthopedic SurgeryDisease SurveillanceInfection PreventionOrthopedicsHealthcare-associated InfectionsHospital SurveillanceInfection SurveillanceOrthopedic InfectionSurgical Site InfectionWound InfectionInfection Prevention After SurgeryPostoperative Infection SurveillancePostoperative Surgical Site InfectionSurgical Site Infection DetectionSurgical Site Infection ManagementWound Infection AssessmentWound Infection Surveillance
Post-discharge surveillance of surgical site infection is necessary if accurate rates of infection following surgery are to be available. We undertook a prospective study of 376 knee and hip replacements in 366 patients in order to estimate the rate of orthopaedic surgical site infection in the community. The inpatient infection was 3.1% and the post-discharge infection rate was 2.1%. We concluded that the use of telephone interviews of patients to identify the group at highest risk of having a surgical site infection (those who think they have an infection) with rapid follow-up by a professional trained to diagnose infection according to agreed criteria is an effective method of identifying infection after discharge from hospital.
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