Reducing Intraoperative ESKAPE (Enterococcus, S. Aureus, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Enterobacter Spp.) Transmission Via Use of an Evidence-Based, Hand Hygiene Program Optimized by OR PathTrac

A solid body of published and preliminary evidence leveraging systematic phenotypic and whole cell genome analysis and innovative surveillance technology has provided great insight into the epidemiology of perioperative bacterial transmission and healthcare-associated infection (HAI) development. This work has led us to three primary assertions that serve as the foundation of our scientific premise: 1) Further progress towards HAI prevention is needed, 2) Prevention of perioperative ESKAPE transmission is an important improvement target, and 3) An evidence-based, multi-faceted program can reduce perioperative ESKAPE transmission. Further work to generate intraoperative hand hygiene improvement is indicated. We hypothesize that the proposed program will generate sustained reductions in OR ESKAPE exposure and S. aureus transmission that will lead to sustained reductions in perioperative HAIs.