The Dangers of SSIs: How Innovative Wound Care Treatments Like Vitastem Can Help Prevent Infections
Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a common healthcare-associated infection, affecting thousands of patients annually. SSIs can cause significant morbidity and mortality rates, leading to longer hospital stays and increased healthcare costs. This article aims to shed light on what SSIs are, why they are dangerous to patients, who they commonly affect at hospitals, and most importantly, how hospitals can reduce them. We will also discuss how new and innovative wound care treatments can help prevent SSIs from emerging and treat infections.
What are SSIs?
SSIs are infections that develop in the surgical wounds after surgery. They can affect any layer of the skin, tissue, or organ, depending on the surgical procedure. The infections are caused by bacteria, most commonly staphylococcus aureus, and can be very challenging to treat if left untreated.
Why are SSIs dangerous to patients?
SSIs can be dangerous to patients for many reasons. First, they can end up prolonging hospital stays, which can lead to further complications such as deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary infections. Second, they can cause severe physical and emotional pain to patients, leading to reduced quality of care. Furthermore, SSIs can lead to increased healthcare costs due to extended hospital stays, additional diagnostic tests, and treatment.
Who do SSIs commonly affect at hospitals?
SSIs commonly affect patients who have undergone surgery, have weakened immune systems, suffer from malnutrition, or have significant medical comorbidities that impair wound healing. Patients who require prophylactic antibiotics, such as diabetics, obese individuals, or smokers, are also at high risk of developing SSIs.
How can hospitals reduce SSIs?
Hospitals can reduce SSIs by implementing various prevention measures. Some of these measures include using antiseptic solutions during preoperative skin preparation, sterile instruments, and surgical equipment, and maintaining a clean surgical environment. Additionally, hospitals can provide comprehensive and evidence-based education and training to healthcare workers, patients, and visitors to minimize the risk of SSIs. However, the most essential prevention measure is proper wound care management that mitigates the risk of infection post-surgery.
What measures can help prevent SSIs from rising in healthcare?
To help prevent the rise of SSIs in healthcare, healthcare providers need to be judicious in their use of antibiotics and continue to monitor and report SSI rates. Moreover, healthcare providers can incorporate new and innovative wound care treatments that improve treatment efficacy and minimize the risk of developing resistant strains of bacterial infections. One such treatment is Vitastem Ultra, a topical antibiotic ointment with a highly concentrated formula that can help treat, heal, and prevent these types of infections.
The Bottom line on SSI prevention in healthcare…
SSIs remain a significant challenge in healthcare, causing morbidity, increased healthcare costs, and even mortality. Healthcare providers need to implement relevant preventive measures, such as proper wound care management, sterile instruments, and education and training of healthcare workers and patients. By providing comprehensive and evidence-based care, healthcare providers can significantly reduce the risk of SSIs in patients undergoing surgery.
Furthermore, as new, and innovative wound care treatments like Vitastem Ultra continue to emerge, healthcare providers have a more reliable means of managing SSIs and preventing their emergence. Adopting such treatments can help reduce patient morbidity and mortality, minimize healthcare costs, and improve the quality of care in hospitals.
Healthcare professionals around the world are always looking for progressive treatments that can improve patient health care and they should consider looking more into new treatments like Vitastem Ultra. This innovative topical antibiotic spray is available for OTC use and has proven to be 10x more effective at treating many infectious skin diseases, surgical and diabetic wounds, along with antibiotic-resistant bacteria such as staph & MRSA infections too.
If you or a loved one is suffering from an SSI like staph or MRSA, then you should ask your doctor more about this highly effective wound care treatment. In addition, hospitals and surgical centers should also look more into using Vitastem as a solution to reduce surgical site infections and the spread of these infections to others in healthcare facilities too.