Preventing infection after surgery is essential

Patients may need surgery due to various problems. Adequate precautions must be taken during the hospitalization and post-operative period. Otherwise, the patient is at risk of infection. Post-operative infection is a serious problem. This can even lead to the death of the patient.

Things to do to avoid infection:

1) Before surgery: First, patients who are at risk of infection should be selected. Some patients are at higher risk of infection after surgery. Those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk.

Apart from this, such patients include people with diabetes, those with excess body fat, those who smoke, those who suffer from malnutrition, those who have anemia and those who have been taking steroid medicines for a long time. Such patients should be advised to follow precautions before the operation. They should be asked to stop smoking at least four weeks before the operation and to control diabetes if present. Anemia and malnutrition should be treated if present. Those taking steroids can have their medication stopped on the advice of a doctor. The patient should bathe thoroughly with soap before entering the operation theatre. If there is hair at the operation site, it is better not to shave that area.

2) During the operation: One of the conditions for preventing infection caused by the operation is to follow the operation theater etiquette. The operation theater and surgical instruments must be adequately disinfected. No one can enter the theater with outer clothes or sandals. If possible, disposable gowns should be used. Only the designated doctor, nurse, and ward boy should enter the operation theater according to the rules, no one else. In addition, the patient should be given a good antiseptic wash during the operation. Prophylactic antibiotics should be used 30 minutes to an hour before the operation. In the case of a long-term operation, an additional dose of antibiotics may be required. To prevent infection, care should be taken to ensure that the patient does not become dehydrated. In addition, it is important to maintain proper oxygen saturation.

3) After the operation: If the patient's dressing gets wet, it should be changed as soon as possible. If there is a tube in the urinary tract, it should be taken care of and the cannula site for injection should be taken care of. Antibiotics should be taken as per the doctor's advice and the dressing should be changed. Remember, the fewer the number of visitors, the lower the risk of infection.

Suggested by: Dr. Mosabbir Ahmad Khan, Specialist Burn and Plastic Surgeon, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical College Hospital, Faridpur.