Pitt County Memorial Hospital
Prevention of Infection After Surgery
Antibiotics are medicines that prevent and treat infections. It is important for surgical patients to receive the right antibiotic at the right time.
The three standards below deal with the practices a hospital should follow with all patients who enter the hospital for surgery.
Optimal Care The optimal care measure is a condition-level summary score that uses the "all or none" methodology to determine if a patient received all of the recommended treatment that was appropriate for his or her history and condition. This information helps patients, family, and friends compare the quality and safety of care in North Carolina hospitals. The quality measures reported on this site are well accepted nationally as steps that should be taken in the care of the conditions.
For more information on Optimal Care, please visit NC Hospital Quality .
How PCMH compares to national and state averages
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More recent PCMH data
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Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - Hospital Compare
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Source: UHS internal data
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Patients should receive preventive antibiotics one hour before surgery. Surgery patients who get antibiotics within an hour before their operations are less likely to get infections. Getting an antibiotic earlier, or after surgery begins, is not as effective.
How PCMH compares to national and state averages
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More recent PCMH data
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Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - Hospital Compare
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Source: UHS internal data
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Patients should be given the appropriate preventive antibiotic for surgery. Specific antibiotics are known to help prevent infection after a particular type of surgery.
How PCMH compares to national and state averages
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More recent PCMH data
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Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - Hospital Compare
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Source: UHS internal data
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Patients should stop receiving preventive antibiotics within 24 hours after surgery .
Taking these antibiotics for more than 24 hours after routine surgery is usually not necessary and can increase the chances you will have side effects. Overuse of antibiotics can also cause these medicines to be less effective.
How PCMH compares to national and state averages
|
More recent PCMH data
|
Source: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - Hospital Compare
|
Source: UHS internal data
|