Classen DC, Evans RS, Pestotnik SL, Horn SD, Menlove RL, Burke JP. The timing of prophylactic administration of antibiotics and the risk of surgical-wound infection. New England Journal of Medicine. 1992;326(5):281-286.

This study is a retrospective medical record review of 2,847 patients having had clean or clean-contaminated inpatient elective procedures during a 12-month period in 1985-1986 at a 540-bed teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Utah.  The objective of the study was to examine how variations in the timing of prophylactic antibiotics affect the occurrence of surgical wound infections in clinical practice.

Burke JP. Maximizing appropriate antibiotic prophylaxis for surgical patients: An update from LDS Hospital, Salt Lake City. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2001;33(Suppl 2):S78-83.

This report describes one hospital’s experience, over thirty years, as it developed and implemented programs to improve antimicrobial prophylaxis, decrease surgical site infection rates, and adhere to recommendations regarding prevention of antimicrobial resistance.  This institution conducted multiple studies over the thirty years (1971-2001), looking at infection rates and the use of antibiotics.

Brennan TA, Leape LL, Laird NM, et al. Incidence of adverse events and negligence in hospitalized patients: Results of the Harvard Medical Practice Study I. New England Journal of Medicine. 1991;324(6):370-376.

This paper describes a retrospective medical record review of 30,121 randomly selected records from 51 randomly selected acute care non-psychiatric hospitals in New York State in 1984.  The data were used to develop population estimates of adverse events and injuries.  Conclusion: there is a substantial amount of injury to patients from medical management, and many injuries are the result of substandard care.

Bratzler DW, Houck PM, for the Surgical Infection Prevention Guidelines Writers Workgroup. Antimicrobial prophylaxis for surgery: An advisory statement from the National Surgical Infection Prevention Project. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2004;38:1706–1715.

The authors of all current North American surgical infection prevention guidelines, along with professional organizations that are involved in surgical care, released a joint advisory statement on infection prevention based on their review of areas of agreement, areas of inconsistencies, and issues not currently addressed in published guidelines for surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis. This advisory statement provides an overview of other issues related to antimicrobial prophylaxis, including specific suggestions regarding antimicrobial selection.

Bratzler DW. Antimicrobial Prophylaxis for Surgery: Duration of Therapy. December 2003. (Unpublished manuscript; used with permission from the author.)

Literature review and commentary on the evidence supports discontinuation of antibiotics 24 hours after surgery, a quality measure of the National Surgical Infection Prevention Project. Written by Dale W. Bratzler, DO, MPH, principal clinical coordinator, Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality, this article appeared in the Winter 2004 issue of the MPRO (the Missouri quality improvement organization) "Quality Focus" newsletter and other QIO newsletters across the United States.

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Geerts WH, Heit JA, Clagett GP, et al. Prevention of venous thromboembolism. American College of Chest Physicians. 2001;119:132S-175S.

This article reviews the literature related to the risks and prevention of venous thromboembolism.  Of note is the review of the gap between current science and actual practice and multiple tables where they delineate risk stratification measures and in-hospital prevention strategies for specific disease processes and surgical procedures.

Eagle KA, Guyton RL, et al. American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) Guidelines for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery. A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on practice guidelines (Committee to Update the 1991 Guidelines). Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 1999;34(4):1262-1347.

Part IV of this guideline examines management strategies to reduce perioperative mortality and morbidity in corony artery bypass graft.  The complications discussed include:  brain dysfunction (CVA and neurological injury), myocardial dysfunction, multisystem organ failure, infection (pp. 1291-1293), postoperative dysrhythmias, and perioperative bleeding and transfusion. Over 700 references are included in this guideline.  (81 page PDF file)

Pincock S. New plan launched to tackle Britain's high rate of hospital infection. British Medical Journal. 2003;327:1366.

Article discussing a new plan to reduce hospital acquired infections in Britain.  The plan involves appointing a director of infection control, as well as a new push for frequent hand washing by staff in order to take on this tough challenge.

Rivers E, et al. Early goal-directed therapy in the treatment of severe sepsis and septic shock. New England Journal of Medicine. 2001;345(19):1368-1377.

This article details a study done on evaluating the efficacy of early goal-directed therapy before admitting patients to the intensive care unit.

Bennett JV, Brachman PS (editors)
Boston, Massachusetts, USA: Little, Brown Medical Division; 1992

A comprehensive reference to infectious disease and infection control in the hospital environment. See Chapter by Martone WJ, Jarvis WR, Culver DH, Haley RW: Incidence and nature of endemic and epidemic nosocomial infections  (p. 577-596).