A Multidisciplinary Infection Control Bundle to Reduce the Number of Spinal Cord Stimulator Infections.

Objective: To investigate the effect of a quality improvement project that resulted in an infection control bundle to reduce the number of spinal cord stimulator (SCS) infections.

Materials And Methods: The study was performed in a single center for neuromodulation from January 1, 2014, through May 31, 2016. In response to a high number of surgical site infections (SSIs) after SCS surgery, a multidisciplinary team analyzed the surgical process and developed an infection prevention bundle consisting of five items: 1) showering and decolonization for five days prior to surgery and showering in the hospital on the morning of surgery; 2) performing the SCS implantation as the first in the daily operating room (OR) program; 3) maintaining a minimal number of people in the OR; 4) providing home care nurses with a folder with SCS wound care instructions including pictures; 5) giving oral specific wound care instructions to patients.