Infection control team shortlisted for Nursing Times Awards

A project to reduce infections in heart patients after surgery has been shortlisted for a prestigious Nursing Times Award. Guy’s and St Thomas’ infection control team has been shortlisted in the Infection Prevention and Control category of the award.

The team introduced a way of monitoring infections in heart patients following surgery – surgical site infection surveillance.

Surveillance means that surgical and ward staff report infections in surgical patients promptly. The Trust has seen infection rates in heart surgery patients fall from 5.4% in 2009 to 1.1% in 2015. Patients are also given advice about how to monitor wounds after surgery.

Lilian Chiwera, lead nurse for surgical site Infection surveillance, says: “There is always a risk of infection after any major operation such as a heart bypass. But our team has worked closely with surgical and ward staff to improve the way we gather and report information about infections so we provide the best possible care during and after surgery for our patients.

“We are striving to be the best at preventing avoidable surgical infections at our hospitals.”

The winners of the awards will be announced on 26 October.