Intraoperative prevention of Surgical Site Infections as experienced by operating room nurses

ABSTRACT

Aim: This study examines how OR nurses experience intraoperative prevention of SSIs.

Introduction: Infections related to surgical procedures create both great patient suffering and high costs for society. Therefore, prevention of Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) should be a high priority for all surgical settings. All details of intraoperative care need to be investigated and evaluated to ensure best practices are evidence-based.

Methods: This study uses the Reflective Lifeworld Research (RLR) approach, which is grounded in phenomenology. Participants were OR nurses with at least one year of clinical experience. In total, 15 participants from seven hospitals made contact and were included in this interview study.

Results: Prevention of SSIs takes both head and hand. It requires long-term, continuous, and systematic work in several parallel processes, both intellectually and organisationally. The hierarchical tradition of the operating room is often ambiguous, shielded by its safe structures but still restricted by traditional patterns. Confident relations and resolute communication within the team generate favorable conditions for preventing SSIs.

Conclusions: By setting up mutual platforms and forums for quality development, increasing legitimacy for OR nurses and establishing fixed teams, prevention of SSIs will continue to improve, ensuring the patients’ safety during intraoperative care.

KEYWORDS:

• Intraoperative care
• Operating room
• Prevention
• Surgical Site Infection
• Surgical team

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the OR nurses who participated in this study for sharing their experiences and ideas.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Maria Qvistgaard

Maria Qvistgaard, RN, ORN, Ph.D. student and employed as a lecturer in perioperative care at Linnaeus University, Sweden.

Jenny Lovebo

Jenny Lovebo, Ph.D. and employed as a senior lecturer in nursing science at Linnaeus University, Sweden.

Sofia Almerud-Österberg

Sofia Almerud-Österberg, RN, Ph.D. and employed as an associate professor in nursing science at Linnaeus University, Sweden.