Post-Operative Infection - Free Paper Sample

Introduction

A fifty-eight-year-old male patient presents with a purulent discharge at the site of the surgical incision one week after undergoing a CABG surgery. An in-depth analysis indicates that he is suffering from a post-operative infection, which alludes to the pathological degeneration that occurs after invasive procedures that require further medical attention hence inflating the cost of treatment. According to Allergranzi et al. (2016), over 5% of the patients who have undergone complex operations such as CABG develop complications post-operatively. The condition disrupts the physiological functioning of the body, and in some cases, it causes fatalities.

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The factors that may have increased the vulnerability of the patient to the infection include contamination of the surgical site and being advanced in age. Other common predisposing factors include the presence of underlying conditions, such as diabetes and obesity (Ogawa et al., 2019). Analysis of the pathophysiology of surgical site infections is essential in determining the restorative practices incorporated in the care of affected individuals. It also examines the implications of the condition on the implementation of effective self-care practices. Subsequently, it aids in developing strategies for patient education and unearthing the interdisciplinary collaborations required in the management of the condition to elicit positive outcomes.

Pathophysiology of Post-Operative Infections

Infections at surgical sites occur when microbes such as gram-positive bacteria invade the body. Banasik & Copstead (2018) indicate that the presence of the micro-organisms triggers pathological manifestations such as intense pain and reddening of the surgical site. Subsequently, it causes the emission of smelly, purulent discharge. In some instances, the microbial infestation may also cause pyrexia (Banasik & Copstead, 2018). The patient's history shows he has a pus oozing infection in the surgical site.

The first medical procedure carried out while handling infections in surgical sites is collecting samples for testing to detect abnormalities. The process includes the extraction of wound swabs for culture to determine the presence of microbial colonies at the surgical site (Allergranzi et al., 2016). Subsequently, it is necessary to test blood samples for infection markers to determine whether the micro-organisms have affected the patient systemically. The culture will identify the presence of gram-positive bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus (Allergranzi et al., 2016). However, the blood sample is likely to test negative for systemic sepsis. The rationale for the diagnostic determination is that the presence of gram-positive bacteria colonies often affects surgical sites causing them to produce pus as seen in the patient. On the other hand, the presence of a systemic infection would cause more severe symptoms, such as sustained fever, which does not apply in the case.

Implications for Self-Care

A post-operative infection increases the complexity of care that the patient requires. For instance, the patient needs delicate procedures such as drainage of the purulent matter in the surgical site and extensive cleaning and dressing of the wound. Such processes may be too complicated for the caregiver to perform because they require the expertise of medical professionals who comprehend how to clean and dress the wounds properly (Ogawa et al., 2019). However, the patient lacks medical coverage and has limited funds to cater to his medical needs. According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, individuals prioritize primary needs such as food, water, and shelter before other requirements such as medical attention. Given the patient's financial situation, he cannot afford to seek constant medical attention because he also needs to cater for other critical needs. Therefore, he requires a more affordable strategy for managing his condition.

Orem's theory of self-care deficit explores the concept of including patients and their families in disseminating home-based care. The individuals can play an active role in the care of the patient by providing the ministrations he needs to hasten the healing process (Vayalil, 2016). With adequate training, close family members can conceptualize and handle critical processes required in the management of the wound. For instance, the patient's wife can receive instructions on how to clean and dress the infected area effectively; so that she can take care of him competently. The rationale of using the strategy is to increase the quality of care that the patient receives while reducing its cost.

Patient Education Strategy

The patient requires a comprehensive home-based care plan after receiving initial care in the emergency room to facilitate continuity of his care and restore his health to normalcy. Firstly, it is necessary to teach his bedside caregiver the essential steps required in caring for the infected wound (Ogawa et al., 2019). The measures include washing hands before handling the infected wound and dressing the affected area aseptically. Secondly, there is a need to provide the patient and his family members with educational materials. For example, medical professionals can provide pamphlets, books, or video recordings that demonstrate the distinctive procedures that should be followed while handling the infected site (Ogawa et al., 2019). Thirdly, they can educate the patient on how to employ health IT, such as applications in mobile devices, to monitor his condition. For instance, the patient's bedside caregiver can compile data on his progress and send it electronically to the medical experts for evaluation and further recommendations. The strategy will ensure that the patient receives standardized care at home to avoid additional expenses such as the cost of transportation to a medical facility and consultation fees.

Interdisciplinary Collaborations

The patient requires an interdisciplinary team to manage the surgical site infection and promote healing. He needs collaborative engagement between diverse medical experts focused on sharing the responsibilities needed to elicit positive outcomes. The interdisciplinary team that is necessary for the care of the patient includes the nurses (Ogawa et al., 2019). The rationale of having the nurses in the interdisciplinary team is to ensure that the patient and his bedside caregiver get adequate information on the techniques they should use to manage his care before discharge from the healthcare facility. Subsequently, a nutritionist should also be part of the team to educate the patient on the appropriate meal plan that would fast track the healing process (Ogawa et al., 2019). For instance, he can receive instructions on the foods that he should avoid, such as high glucose diets that may precipitate hyperglycemia.

Physicians should be part of the interdisciplinary team because they prescribe the medications needed to heal the infection. Additionally, pharmacists are vital team players because of their critical role in educating the patient on how to use the prescribed drugs (Ogawa et al., 2019). For example, they can enlighten him on the significance of finishing the prescribed dose of antibiotics to avoid developing resistance. Collaboration between professionals is essential in transitioning from the hospital to home-based care. Subsequently, it has positive financial implications because it minimizes the cost of obtaining medical attention by reducing frequent visits to healthcare facilities.

Conclusion

Many patients develop post-operative infections after undergoing delicate operations. Infected surgical sites manifest pathological manifestations such as emission of purulent discharge and reddening. A fifty-eight-year-old man with an infection after undergoing a CABG surgery requires distinctive strategies to manage the condition, which is triggered by microbial invasion. The illness interferes with the ability to implement self-care practices; hence, the patient has to seek treatment and incur further costs. Therefore, the ailing person and his care providers require instructions on how to handle home-based care of the condition to reduce his medical expenses. Subsequently, it is necessary to advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare providers to ensure that the patient receives holistic care that elicits positive outcomes.

References

Allegranzi, B., Zayed, B., Bischoff, P., Kubilay, N. Z., de Jonge, S., de Vries, F., ... & Abbas, M. (2016). Surgical site infections 2. New WHO recommendations on intraoperative and post-operative measures for surgical site infection prevention: an evidence-based global perspective. Lancet Infect Dis, 16(12), e288-303.

Banasik, J.L., & Copstead, L.C. (2018). Pathophysiology (6th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

Ogawa, M., Satomi-Kobayashi, S., Yoshida, N., Tsuboi, Y., Komaki, K., Wakida, K., ... & Okada, K. (2019). Effects of acute-phase multidisciplinary rehabilitation on unplanned readmissions after cardiac surgery. The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.

Vayalil, S. J. (2016). Integrating Nursing Theory into Practice: Orem Self-Care Deficit Theory. International Journal of Nursing Science Practice and Research, 2(1), 17-21.