Procedure-Associated (PA) Module

Patients undergoing surgical procedures are at an increased risk of infectious complications. Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) following operative procedures are well documented sequelae, and can result in extended hospital stays, increased morbidity, and increased healthcare costs. In one publication, it was estimated that over 8% of the HAIs that were associated with deaths in US were SSIs.¹

Post Procedure Pneumonias (PPPs) can also develop in patients postoperatively. Postoperative reduction in lung inflation, challenge to a patient’s immune system, and side effects of prescribed medications can all impact a patient’s ability to resist infection and a PPP can result in the same negative consequences of illness, increased cost and death.

NHSN allows facilities to categorize surgical patients by the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS) System SSI risk- stratification method. This method accounts for the patient’s pre-surgical medical status, length of surgery compared to similar surgeries and a extent of contamination of the surgical wound. Using this information, facilities are able to categorize their patients, calculate risk-stratified rates, and compare those rates against national risk stratified rates. A variety of comparison percentiles and statistical analysis options are offered including line listings, frequency tables, rates, and control charts and can be used to better inform quality improvement decisions.

Protocols which outline the mechanisms and methods of surveillance are included for the following NHSN Events:

• SSI-Surgical site infection
• PPP-Post procedure pneumonia

¹Klevens RM, Edward JR, et al. Estimating health care-associated infections and deaths in U.S. hospitals, 2002. Public Health Reports 2007;122:160-166.

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