Nursing interventions in surgical site infection prevention and wound care
Micheni, Linsey Wanja; Williams-Omorogbe, Osayamen Tracy (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025060319893
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025060319893
Tiivistelmä
Surgical site infections have posed significant challenges to the health sector globally, especially in aspects
of finance and patient care outcomes. Nurses play major roles in the prevention of SSIs and wound care in
the three phases of surgery through evidence-based interventions and practices to reduce the incidence
and burden of SSIs on the health sector.
The aim of the study was to explore nursing interventions in surgical site infection prevention and wound
care for the purpose of reducing SSIs and improving quality of nursing care by educating nursing staff and
students in surgical patient care.
The study employed the literature review method to synthesize available research on nursing interventions
on SSI prevention and wound care. Collectively, 22 studies were carefully selected for the review from two
databases; CINAHL and PubMed have met the inclusion criteria set by the authors. The content analysis
method was used to analyze articles and data collected was systematically grouped from which the themes
and subthemes of nursing interventions were made.
The results distinguished nursing interventions in the perioperative, intraoperative and postoperative
phases and highlighted antibiotics prophylaxis, perioperative bathing, hair removal, glycemic control, normothermia, wound irrigation, risk assessment and documentation, use of antiseptic techniques, skin antisepsis, wound care, negative wound therapy, oxygenation, pain management, use of surgical drapes and
post-operative patient education as nursing interventions for preventing SSIs and wound care in all phases
of surgery.
The authors concluded that SSIs are major concerns of the multi-professional health care system for which
nursing interventions in surgical care are key aspects in its prevention. They emphasized the need for
adopting evidence-based intervention practices and continuous education and training of nurses at all levels.
of finance and patient care outcomes. Nurses play major roles in the prevention of SSIs and wound care in
the three phases of surgery through evidence-based interventions and practices to reduce the incidence
and burden of SSIs on the health sector.
The aim of the study was to explore nursing interventions in surgical site infection prevention and wound
care for the purpose of reducing SSIs and improving quality of nursing care by educating nursing staff and
students in surgical patient care.
The study employed the literature review method to synthesize available research on nursing interventions
on SSI prevention and wound care. Collectively, 22 studies were carefully selected for the review from two
databases; CINAHL and PubMed have met the inclusion criteria set by the authors. The content analysis
method was used to analyze articles and data collected was systematically grouped from which the themes
and subthemes of nursing interventions were made.
The results distinguished nursing interventions in the perioperative, intraoperative and postoperative
phases and highlighted antibiotics prophylaxis, perioperative bathing, hair removal, glycemic control, normothermia, wound irrigation, risk assessment and documentation, use of antiseptic techniques, skin antisepsis, wound care, negative wound therapy, oxygenation, pain management, use of surgical drapes and
post-operative patient education as nursing interventions for preventing SSIs and wound care in all phases
of surgery.
The authors concluded that SSIs are major concerns of the multi-professional health care system for which
nursing interventions in surgical care are key aspects in its prevention. They emphasized the need for
adopting evidence-based intervention practices and continuous education and training of nurses at all levels.