Applying the standardized infection ratio for reporting surgical site infections in Australian healthcare facilities

Tanamas, SK; Lim, LL; Bull, AL; Malloy, MJ; Cheng, AC; Worth, LJ

Author(s): Tanamas, SK; Lim, LL; Bull, AL; Malloy, MJ; Cheng, AC; Worth, LJ;
Details: Publication Year 2023,Volume 3,Issue #1,Page e211
Journal Title: Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology
Publication Type: Research article
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: We explored the utility of the standardized infection ratio (SIR) for surgical site infection (SSI) reporting in an Australian jurisdiction. DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Statewide SSI surveillance data from 2013 to 2019. PATIENTS: Individuals who had cardiac bypass surgery (CABG), colorectal surgery (COLO), cesarean section (CSEC), hip prosthesis (HPRO), or knee prosthesis (KPRO) procedures. METHODS: The SIR was calculated by dividing the number of observed infections by the number of predicted infections as determined using the National Healthcare Safety Network procedure-specific risk models. In line with a minimum precision criterion, an SIR was not calculated if the number of predicted infections was <1. RESULTS: A SIR >0 (>/=1 observed SSI, predicted number of SSI >/=1, no missing covariates) could be calculated for a median of 89.3% of reporting quarters for CABG, 75.0% for COLO, 69.0% for CSEC, 0% for HPRO, and 7.1% for KPRO. In total, 80.6% of the reporting quarters, when the SIR was not calculated, were due to no observed infections or predicted infections <1, and 19.4% were due to missing covariates alone. Within hospitals, the median percentage of quarters during which zero infections were observed was 8.9% for CABG, 20.0% for COLO, 25.4% for CSEC, 67.3% for HPRO, and 71.4% for KPRO. CONCLUSIONS: Calculating an SIR for SSIs is challenging for hospitals in our regional network, primarily because of low event numbers and many facilities with predicted infections <1. Our SSI reporting will continue to use risk-indexed rates, in tandem with SIR values when predicted number of SSI >/=1.
Department(s): Infectious Diseases
PubMed ID: 38156237
Publisher's Version: https://doi.org/10.1017/ash.2023.478
Open Access at Publisher's Site: https://doi.org/10.1017/ash.2023.478
Terms of Use/Rights Notice: Refer to copyright notice on published article.

Creation Date: 2024-08-20 06:17:59

Last Modified: 2024-08-20 06:56:39