CDC Guideline for the Prevention of SSIs, 2017
Acknowledging that surgical site infections (SSIs) are a frequent complication in surgical care—representing the most common of all hospital–acquired infections (HAIs) according to a recent survey, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published an update to their guidelines for preventing SSIs. Based on new evidence, the updated guidelines cover 14 main domains, including a new section on prosthetic joint arthroplasty. Key recommendations relate to preoperative prevention practices, intraoperative prevention practices, and perioperative management strategies. Infection preventionists have a key role to play in implementing the guidelines to prevent SSIs and should remain up to date on the latest recommendations, collaborating with key stakeholders to ensure that their facility's policies and practices are aligned with the new guidelines. Read more . [1]
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Upcoming Conferences
CASA's 2017 Annual Conference: September 6–8, 2017
The conference will address the most current topics affecting California ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs).
CASA's Infection Prevention Seminar: November 8–9, 2017
Attend this infection prevention training that is focused on your ASC's specific needs to make sure you are meeting all the components of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) infection control oversight.
Tools & Resources
Alcohol-Based Skin Preparations
The CDC has stated that there are no definitive studies comparing the effectiveness of the different types of skin antiseptics in preventing SSI and that alcohol remains the most effective and rapid-acting skin antiseptic. However, alcohol-based skin preparations are also flammable and contribute to risk of fire.  Read more . [2]
Chlorhexidine-Alcohol Versus Povidone-Iodine
Since the patient's skin is a major source of pathogens that cause SSI, optimization of preoperative skin antisepsis may decrease postoperative infections. It was hypothesized that preoperative skin cleansing with chlorhexidine-alcohol is more protective against infection than is povidone-iodine. Read more . [3]
Best Practices in Action!

Surgical Skin Preparation: Protecting Yourself and Your Patients
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[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guideline for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection (2017).
Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/infectioncontrol/guidelines/ssi/index.html
[2] Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Use of Alcohol-based Skin Preparations in Anesthetizing Locations.
Available at: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-Certification/SurveyCertificationGenInfo/downloads/SCLetter07-11.pdf
[3] National Center for Biotechnology Information. Chlorhexidine-Alcohol versus Povidone-Iodine for Surgical-Site Antisepsis.
Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20054046.
This material was prepared by Health Services Advisory Group, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for California, under contract with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The contents presented do not necessarily reflect CMS policy. Publication No. CA-11SOW-ASC-08242017-01