The Surgical Care Improvement Project focuses on interventions used to minimize the occurrence of hospital acquired infections in patients having surgery. The following graphs represent MUSC's efforts to reduce infections acquired through surgery compared to the national average. The numbers reported are for the third quarter of 2007. In all cases, a higher score is better. Antibiotic Received Within 1 Hour Prior to Surgical Incision
Prophylactic Antibiotic Selection for Surgical Patients
Antibiotics Discontinued Within 24 Hours After Surgery
Prophylactic Antibiotic Received Within 1 Hour Prior to Surgical Incision- Surgical patients who received prophylactic antibiotics within one hour prior to surgical incision. Patients who received vancomycin or a fluoroquinolone for prophylactic antibiotics should have the antibiotics administered within two hours prior to surgical incision. Due to the longer infusion time required for vancomycin or a fluoroquinolone, it is acceptable to start these antibiotics within two hours prior to incision time. *
Top of page Prophylactic Antibiotic Selection for Surgical Patients- Surgical patients who received prophylactic antibiotics consistent with current guidelines (specific to each type of surgical procedure). * Top of page Prophylactic Antibiotics Discontinued Within 24 Hours After Surgery End Time-Surgical patients whose prophylactic antibiotics were discontinued within 24 hours after surgery end time. * *Source: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Joint Commission "Specifications Manual for National Hospital Quality Measures." Top of page | 
