Surgical site infections: prevention and treatment

Research recommendation(s) from an individual piece of guidance

Guidance:

Surgical site infections: prevention and treatment

Date issued:

11 April 2019

Research recommendations coming out of this guidance

• What is the clinical effectiveness of preoperative nasal decolonisation using mupirocin in combination with a chlorhexidine body wash in the whole population?

• Does the use of barbed sutures for wound closure reduce the incidence of surgical site infection? 

• Which closure method or technique is the most effective for reducing surgical site infections in patients undergoing emergency surgery?

• Is the use of chlorhexidine body wash associated with increased antimicrobial resistance?

• What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of chlorhexidine in alcohol at different concentrations in the prevention of surgical site infection when applied to the skin before incision?

• Is the application of antiseptics and antibiotics in the operative field before wound closure, clinically and cost effective in reducing surgical site infection rates?

• Which patient groups, contamination groups and which layers gain the most benefit from the use of triclosan-coated or triclosan-impregnated sutures?

• What is the contribution to clinical effectiveness of the timing of nasal decolonisation and body wash for the prevention of surgical site infection?

• What is the effectiveness of decolonisation using alternative interventions in combination with nasal decolonisation in the prevention of surgical site infections when chlorhexidine is contraindicated?

• What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of a double application of antiseptic to the skin at the surgical site compared with a single application? 

• What is the clinical and cost effectiveness of different modes of applying skin antiseptic before incision in the prevention of surgical site infection?