"Surgical Site Infections associated with an incision account for 25% to 38% of nosocomial infections in surgical patients. It is estimated that 2% to 5% of all patients who undergo surgery will develop an SSI. These infections are associated with added morbidity, including prolonged hospitalization by 2 weeks, 5 times the risk of readmission, an increase in average health care costs of up to $26,000 per patient, and twice the risk of death."
--Towfigh et al, Significant Reduction in Incidence of Wound Contamination by Skin Flora Through Use of Microbial Sealant, 2008.
In the CDC's 1999 Guidelines for Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, Microbial contamination of the surgical site is termed a necessary precursor of SSI1. This recent study tested the hypothesis that application of skin sealant prior to incision reduces microbial contamination of the wound.
The study concludes that: "Cyanoacrylate-based microbial sealant may be an important tool to reduce wound contamination and potentially prevent surgical site infections."2
The cost of using INTEGUSEAL* is about $30 per procedure.
