Table 3 Rules of infection control practices in surgery
Rules | Descriptions |
|---|---|
Awareness through the ownership of SSI | • Accountability for SSI, vision on consequences to patients, and individual impact on reputation hold by the senior surgeon. |
• Surgeons awareness relying on their own ad-hoc experience treating patients with SSIs, and complications data discussed in morbidity and mortality meetings. | |
• For non-surgeon staff, awareness through data on post-operative outcomes if available improving buy-in for formal action plan. | |
Perceived SSI preventability driving behaviours | • SSI more tolerated in high risk surgery or patients and put in the context of fatalism. This leads to specialty or patient driven behaviors and more flexibility in infection control practices. |
Hierarchy leading tolerance of poor IC practices | • Assumption of superior knowledge and experience by the senior surgeon, and fear of offending, or even provoking a negative reaction from the surgeon lead to a culture where poor IC practices are tolerated. |