Gli interventi di controllo delle infezioni in area chirurgica: l’esperienza nell’Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Ospedali Riuniti Ancona

The increasing prevalence of multiresistant bacteria, particularly MRSA and VRE, is a major threat in surgery because it causes significant infection-related morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. The control of the spread of multiresistant bacteria will require coordinated and concerted efforts from surgeons, pharmacists, infectivologists, hygienists and microbiologists. Significant successes could be achivied only if each of the following elements is addressed: a) education of hospital staff regarding multiresistant bacteria; b) early detection and prompt reporting of multi-drug-resistant organisms by the hospital microbiology laboratory and immediate implementation of appropriate infection-control measures to prevent person-to-person transmission; d) active surveillance on patients; e) active surveillance to evaluate the effectiveness of a preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis protocol. This study shows that active surveillance is necessary to reduce the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria in hospital.