Page 76 - policy and procedure infection control

Policies and Procedures on Infection Control

8. Encourage patients to shower or bathe at least the night before the operative
day. Gross contamination around and at the incision site should be should
be thoroughly cleaned.
9. Although it is not recommended, but it is preferably and advisable to:
· Taper or discontinue systemic steroid use (when medically permissible).
· Improve patients’ nutrition status prior to the surgery.
10.Each individual surgical discipline should come out with discipline specific
and procedures specific pre-operative preparation, e.g., bowel prep in
colorectal surgery.
5.2.3.2 Surgical team members

1. Keep nails short and do not wear artificial nails.
2. Do not wear hand or arm jewelry.
3. Clean underneath each fingernail prior to performing the first surgical scrub
of the day.
4. Perform a preoperative surgical scrub for at least 2 to 5 minutes using an
appropriate antiseptic.
5. After performing the surgical scrub, keep hands up and away from body
(elbow in flex position) so that water runs from tips of the fingers toward the
elbow. Dry hand with sterile towel and don a sterile gown and gloves.
6. Limit the number of surgical team members in the OR.
7. Provide Continuous Professional Development (CPD) on Infection prevention,
SSI and other appropriate topic for the hospital staffs especially for OR and
surgical based ward staffs.
5.2.3.2.1 Management of infected or colonized surgical personnel
1. Educate and encourage surgical personnel who have signs and symptoms
of a transmissible infectious illness to report conditions promptly to their
supervisors who have the authority to restrict or even remove personnel
from duty.

2. Develop well-defined policies concerning patient-care responsibilities when
personnel have potentially transmissible infectious conditions. These policies
should govern work restriction and clearance to resume work after an illness
that required work restriction.
3. Obtain appropriate cultures from, and exclude from duty, surgical personnel
who have draining skin lesions until infection has been ruled out or personnel
have received adequate therapy and infection has resolved.
4. Do not routinely exclude surgical personnel who are colonized with organism
such as S. aureus (nose, hands, or other body site) or group A
Streptococcus, unless such personnel have been linked epidemiologically
to dissemination of the organism in healthcare setting.

Ministry of Health Malaysia 65