About Surgical Care Improvement Project Information

Infections near or around a surgical incision occur in 2-5% of abdominal area surgeries and up to 20% of intra-abdominal surgeries. A patient who develops a surgical site infection is more likely to be transferred to the ICU, and more likely to be readmitted to the hospital.  Studies have shown that providing a patient with antibiotics at least 1 hour before a surgical incision can prevent infection.

Hospitals can reduce the risk of wound infection after surgery by providing the right medicines at the right time on the day of surgery. Studies show a strong association of reduced incidence of post-operative infection with administration of antibiotics within the one hour prior to surgery. After the incision is closed, however, studies show that prolonged administration of prophylaxis with antibiotics may increase the risk of certain other infections at no additional benefit to the surgical patient.

Scientific evidence indicates that the following measures represent the best practices for the prevention of infections after selected surgeries (colon surgery, hip and knee arthroplasty, abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy, cardiac surgery (including coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG)) and vascular surgery):

Prophylactic Antibiotic Received Within 1 Hour Prior to Surgical Incision - Surgical patients who received prophylactic antibiotics within 1 hour prior to surgical incision.

Prophylactic Antibiotics Discontinued Within 24 Hours After Surgery End Time - Surgical patients whose prophylactic antibiotics were discontinued within 24 hours after surgery end time.