In this section :
- Hospital harm is everyone’s concern
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Hospital Harm Improvement Resource
- How to Use the Hospital Harm Measure for Improvement
- Learning from Harm
- General Patient Safety Quality Improvement and Measurement Resources
- Hypoglycemia: Introduction
- Aspiration Pneumonia: Introduction
- Delirium: Introduction
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Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Introduction
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Discharge Abstract Database
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Importance to Patients and Families
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Measures
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: Success Stories
- Infusion, Transfusion and Injection Complications: References
- Medication Incidents: Introduction
- Obstetric Hemorrhage: Introduction
- Patient Trauma: Introduction
- Pneumonia: Introduction
- Pneumothorax: Introduction
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Post Procedural Infections: Introduction
- Post Procedural Infections: Discharge Abstract Database
- Post Procedural Infections: Importance to Patients and Families
- Post Procedural Infections: Clinical and Systems Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Post Procedural Infections: Measures
- Post Procedural Infections: Success Stories
- Post Procedural Infections: References
- Pressure Ulcer: Introduction
- Sepsis: Introduction
- UTI: Introduction
- Venous Thromboembolism: Introduction
- Wound Disruption: Introduction
- Obstetric Trauma: Introduction
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Procedure-Associated Shock: Introduction
- Procedure-Associated Shock: Discharge Abstract Database
- Procedure-Associated Shock: Importance to Patients and Families
- Procedure-Associated Shock: Clinical and System Review, Incident Analysis
- Procedure-Associated Shock: Measures
- Procedure-Associated Shock: Success Stories
- Procedure-Associated Shock: References
- Selected Serious Events: Introduction
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Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Introduction
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Discharge Abstract Database
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Importance to Patients and Families
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Measures
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: Success Stories
- Electrolyte and Fluid Imbalance: References
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Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Introduction
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Discharge Abstract Database
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Importance to Patients and Families
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Measures
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): Success Stories
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Health Care / Medication Associated Condition): References
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Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Introduction
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Discharge Abstract Database
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Importance to Patients and Families
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Measures
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): Success Stories
- Anemia – Hemorrhage (Procedure-Associated Conditions): References
- Birth Trauma: Introduction
- Device Failure: Introduction
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Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Introduction
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Discharge Abstract Database
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Importance to Patients and Families
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Surveillance, Outbreak Management
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Measures
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: Success Stories
- Infections due to Clostridium difficile, MRSA or VRE: References
- Laceration: Introduction
- Retained Foreign Body: Introduction
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Viral Gastroenteritis: Introduction
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Discharge Abstract Database
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Importance to Patients and Families
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Surveillance, Outbreak Management
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Clinical and System Reviews, Incident Analyses
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Measures
- Viral Gastroenteritis: Success Stories
- Viral Gastroenteritis: References
Post Procedural Infections: Importance to Patients and Families
Skin is a natural barrier against infection. Even with many precautions and protocols to prevent infection in place, any surgery that causes a break in the skin can lead to an infection (Johns Hopkins Medicine, n.d.). When patients get an infection following surgery or procedure, it delays healing, extends the patient's length of stay and increases their risk for harm and readmission. By implementing the appropriate interventions, patients are safer and go home sooner (Institute for Healthcare Improvement, n.d.).
Most patients who have surgery do well, but about three out of every 100 surgery patients get an infection. This can lead to other problems such as a longer hospital stay and rarely, an infection-related death (IHI, 2012).
Patients and carers should be given information and advice on how to care for their wound after discharge, how to recognize a surgical site infection, and who to contact if they are concerned (NICE, 2019).
Patient Stories
- Ginny's Story (Health Care for All, 2008)
Ginny's life was changed forever by a preventable hospital-acquired infection.
A surgical patient who contracted MRSA following knee replacement surgery describes the effects of the surgical site infection (SSI) on her life, and how her experience led her health care providers to make changes to prevent SSIs.
Post Procedural Infections
