23
May 2017
Study finds more hospital infections risk associated with surgery during the summer months
New research has revealed that patients undergoing operations during the summer are at a higher risk of contracting hospital infections, as the warm weather increases the risk of operation site infections.
The researchers from the University of Iowa found that once temperatures hit 32oc, the likelihood of catching an infection rose to 29 per cent, therefore significantly increasing the chances of hospital infections during the summer months. The result was similar throughout all regions, regardless of patient gender or age groups.
Professor Philip Polgreen, study author, said “We show that seasonality of surgical site infections is strongly associated with average monthly temperature.”
Dr Christopher Anthony from the University of Iowa, said “These results tell us that we need to identify the patients, surgeries and geographic regions where weather-related variables are most likely to increase patients’ risk for infections after surgery.
“This way we can identify the patients at the greatest risk for surgical site infections during warmer summer months.”
The researchers estimate that reducing risky operations by 25 per cent in August could stop nearly 1,700 infections each year.
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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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