INTEGRIS Baptist has implemented two new protocols to help prevent surgical infections. Both of the protocols were a result of the surgical infection prevention project. The goal of these two protocols is to increase patient safety by decreasing the risk of surgical infections.

We first implemented the antibiotic protocol. This protocol states that we select the appropriate antibiotic for the type of surgery, give the antibiotic within one hour prior to the incision, and discontinue the antibiotic in twenty-four hours.

The second protocol we implemented is the hyperglycemia protocol. Many patients have an increase in their blood sugar following surgery even if they are not diabetic. The increase in blood sugar is a result of the stress that the body goes through during surgery. Hyperglycemia is linked with slow wound healing and infection. The protocol states that we test every total joint patient’s blood sugar prior to surgery and again in recovery. If the blood sugar is more than 140 we initiate the protocol. Most patient’s blood sugar levels return to normal within a few days and the insulin is discontinued.