Reducing Surgical Site Infection in Pediatric Scoliosis Surgery: A Multidisciplinary Improvement Program and Prospective 4-Year Audit

STUDY DESIGN: Single-center prospective cohort. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a multidisciplinary led, structured protocol for reducing surgical site infections (SSIs) in pediatric scoliosis surgery. METHODS: Following a spike to 8.6% in local annual infection rate, a multidisciplinary team was convened to identify interventions. The team consisted of spinal surgeons, infectious diseases consultants, physiotherapists, specialist nurses, and theatre managers. A protocol was initiated, including preoperative skin decontamination; standardized operative site prepreparation; betadine-soaked swabs sutured to wound edges; blood loss minimization; 3 L0.9% saline pulsed-lavage; defined protocol of glove changes; antibiotic regime of preoperative gentamicin, intraoperative subfascial vancomycin powder, 48-hour cefuroxime; and intraoperative normothermia. A 4-year audit was initiated of all patients aged ≤18 years undergoing corrective spinal deformity surgery. Institutional board review was not required. RESULTS: Between January 1, 2014 and January 1, 2018, 414 operations were performed on 355 patients: male:female = 1:2.2, mean age 13.7 years (range 2.5-17.9), 233 idiopathic (mean operated vertebral levels 12), 122 neuromuscular (mean operated vertebral levels 14), 66 growing rod procedures, 41 multistage procedures. The mean number of operated vertebral levels both overall and in infected cases was 13 (range 2-17). Nine SSIs occurred in 8 patients at 3 months (4 neuromuscular), resulting in an overall SSI per operation of 2.2%. CONCLUSION: A multidisciplinary approach with standardized measures significantly reduced SSIs in the unit’s pediatric scoliosis surgery.