Abstract
Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) can occur for numerous reasons, but one identified risk for increased SSIs is the occurrence of perioperative hypothermia. Maintenance of normothermia during perioperative period is documented to reduce risk for healthcare-associated infections. Combinations of warming mechanisms have been introduced to reduce SSIs thought to be related to incidental perioperative hypothermia (IPH). Lack of policy-guided perioperative normothermia maintenance had been identified within the participating organization.|Methodology: Based on a quality improvement project theoretical framework, this project was implemented through practice intervention design. Data was collected from 240 patient records over an eight-week period. Analysis regarding the documentation of temperature monitoring from the identified sample and the occurrence of SSIs during the period in conjunction with identifiable hypothermic events was then performed.|Results: A total of 51% (N=122) surgical cases reviewed had a documented temperature of less than 36oC during the surgical case. A total of 53% (N=556) individual temperature readings were less than 36oC. There was a total of six surgical site infections identified during the data collection period with one case void of temperature documentation. The case void of temperature documentation did not meet the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) surgical site infection guidelines, identified as a superficial skin infection. Temperature regulation was identified in the other five cases, excluding the cause of IPH. Ambient temperatures of each operating suite had an overall compliance of 6.8%, excluding the cesarean section suite which was 100% compliant.|Conclusions/Implications: There were no SSIs identified in relation to IPH. Further recommendations are indicated to ensure proper temperature monitoring is in place based upon NHSN guidelines to maintain patient temperature of 36oC and ambient room temperatures of 20-24oC. Further intervention is indicated for compliance with normothermia maintenance and ambient room temperature. The organization has initiated the process for temperature capture improvement and accuracy.