You are transporting a patient to the O.R. when a hospital administrator admonishes you for your attire, pointing out you are in violation of the 2015 Association of Perioperative Registered Nurses (AORN) guidelines. According to a recent retrospective cohort study, which of the following was the most likely effect of implementation of AORN-recommended O.R. attire?
Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) have been associated with increased patient mortality and health care costs. Approximately one-third of these are SSIs, which contribute the largest portion of HAI-related costs annually. Consequently, quality improvement efforts surrounding the reduction of SSIs have been a priority for the health care sector. Evidence-based interventions, such as perioperative glycemic control, antimicrobial prophylaxis and intraoperative normothermia, have had a positive effect on the reduction of SSIs. In 2015, AORN published guidelines on O.R. attire that are intended to further assist in the reduction of SSIs. These guidelines were quickly adopted by regulatory...