OR fire extinguishers; classifying wounds and minor procedures; antibiotic infusion time; mopping after minor procedures

Surgical Wound Classification: Communication Is Needed for Accuracy

“…Several factors affect the potential for surgical site infection development and contribute to the assignment of wound classification 9 . These factors include, but are not limited to, the location of the surgery, the presence of acute inflammation, a major break in sterile technique, and the presence of existing infection at the surgical site 6,9 In many outcome studies, wound classification is an important data point collected as a predictor of postoperative infection and its associated risks 2,6 .…”

“…Wound classification should be determined and documented at the end of the surgical procedure to accurately reflect and capture any events that may have occurred during the procedure that would affect wound classification 6,9 . Examples of this include the following: A surgeon is about to close the fascia during an exploratory laparotomy when a surgical team member notices a tear in the back table drape.…”

“…Wound classification should be determined and documented at the end of the surgical procedure to accurately reflect and capture any events that may have occurred during the procedure that would affect wound classification. 6,9 Examples of this include the following:…”

“…2,3,5,6 The American College of Surgeons 7 defined the initial wound classification categories, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adapted these categories into the current guidelines that were issued in 1985. 8,9 Using this traditional system to define wound classification, surgical procedures are placed into one of four categories: clean (class I), clean/contaminated (class II), contaminated (class III), and dirty/infected (class IV). 2,3,5 Several factors affect the potential for surgical site infection development and contribute to the assignment of wound classification.…”

“…9 These factors include, but are not limited to, the location of the surgery, the presence of acute inflammation, a major break in sterile technique, and the presence of existing infection at the surgical site. 6,9 In many outcome studies, wound classification is an important data point collected as a predictor of postoperative infection and its associated risks. 2,6 Wound classification plays an important role in identifying risk-adjusted outcomes that drive quality improvement initiatives.…”