Hysterectomy Quality Measures
When a surgical incision is made, there is a risk of infection,
because an opening in the skin provides a way for bacteria and viruses to enter
the body. Giving an appropriate antibiotic at the appropriate time helps to
reduce the risk of infection.
According to JCAHO's
Surgical Infection Prevention Core Performance Measures, patients undergoing
hysterectomy should receive a prophylactic antibiotic within one hour prior
to the surgical incision being made.
97 percent of St. Mary's Hospital Medical Center's hysterectomy patients received prophylactic antibiotics within
one hour prior to the surgical incision in
2006.