Thorough preoperative evaluation may reduce infections

Orthopedics Today—September 15, 2017

Orthopedics Today reported that HSS rheumatologist Linda A. Russell, MD gave a presentation about postoperative fever and hospital-acquired infections at the Interdisciplinary Conference of Orthopedic Value-Based Care.

"We want to look at the patient preoperatively to decrease the risk of infection as much as possible postoperatively," said Dr. Russell.

If a patient has a fever after surgery, Dr. Russell recommended that the hospital should have a "strong team in place for surgical site infection and consider a protocol for sending off specimens of evaluations of [Clostridium difficile] C. diff." She added that patients should undergo routine bathing, and that early postoperative fevers will resolve in 2 to 3 days.

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