The number one cause of HAIs is S. aureus, and 50% of S. aureus infections can be linked to bacteria present in known operating room (OR) bacterial reservoirs at the time of surgery. This problem is further exacerbated by antibiotic treatment when antibiotics kill good bacteria and leave antibiotic resistant bacteria to thrive, colonize on patient skin surfaces, and to spread to the surrounding patient environment, healthcare provider hands, and to other patients undergoing health care in the same arena.
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IowaRDB Bioinformatics |
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I use the kit?
At least 10 days prior to surgery, or otherwise used as needed.
Why would you worry about bacteria before surgery? Don’t doctors take care of that?
Doctors do take care to keep the environment and hands clean, but even in a controlled area like the operating room some things are out of their control. Providers leave the operating room and return during surgery, environmental cleaning, and hand hygiene are the most common areas that need to be addressed. Our goal is to protect the patient regardless of the state of the operating room.
What bacteria are important? Why?
S. aureus is the most common superbug. Along with the related MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) are transmitted from patient to patient and do cause a high percentage of infections related to surgery.
What is the difference between MRSA and staph?
MRSA is a subset of S. aureus that is resistant to Methicillin. It is more virulent than basic staph.
How do they cause infection during surgery?
Patients are most vulnerable during surgery. When the skin is punctured and open, bacteria on hands, environment, and even air can enter an otherwise sterile bloodstream and cause serious infections.
How to doctors know what antibiotic to give before surgery?
That is what we are helping with. Doctors give antibiotic based on common historic data, rather than current known data specific to your specific bacteria. Bacteria causes infection, antibiotic kills bacteria. Prescribing the best antibiotic is extremely important.
How do they know whether or not I need to get rid of my bacteria, and whether or not I did?
Some bacteria is less prone to spread, and may not be as important to address. Others are more virulent, and more easily spread, and more commonly lead to infection. Those are the ones that are most important.
What does the kit include?
The kit includes an at-home collection system that you return to our lab. We process those samples and give you a fine report on the findings. Our team of physicians will work with your surgeon or primary care doctor to determine the best course of action for the best outcome. We are your advocate and work for you .
Honors
| 2002 | Seed Grant Research Award, American Medical Association |
| 2003 | American Society of Internal Medicine Award, American College of Physicians |
| 2003 | William R. Wilson Award for Exceptional Accomplishment in Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA |
| 2008 | Research Award Department of Anesthesiology |
| 2009 | APSF/Anesthesia Healthcare Partners (AHP) Research Award |
| 2010 | Lead and cover article in Anesthesiology |
| 2010 | Most read article for the year 2010 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |
| 2011 | Lead and cover article in Anesthesia and Analgesia |
| 2011 | Invited member of the Technical Expert Panel (TEP) for a project sponsored by AHRQ designed to conduct a systematic review of preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis and to design a new protocol based on that systematic review. |
| 2012 | CME designated article in Anesthesia and Analgesia |
| 2015 | Lead and cover article in Anesthesia and Analgesia; Issue dedicated to body of work. |
| 2018 | APSF/ASA Presidents’ Research Award |
Highlights:
In 2009, Dr. Loftus’s research was awarded the APSF/Anesthesia Healthcare Partners (AHP) Research Award for his project titled, “Assessment of Routine Intraoperative Horizontal Transmission of Potentially Pathogenic Bacterial Organisms and Associated Morbidity and Mortality https://www.apsf.org/newsletters/html/2009/winter/03_grantrecip.htm
In 2018, Dr. Loftus’s research was awarded the APSF/ASA President’s Research Award for his project titled, “Reducing Perioperative S. aureus Transmission via use of an Evidence-Based, Multimodal Program Continually Optimized by Innovative Surveillance (OR PathTrac).” (https://www.apsf.org/grants_recipients.php)
Sample sizes defined in a published paper – Franklin Dexter, Johannes Ledolter, Russell T. Wall, Subhradeep Datta, Randy W. Loftus, Sample sizes for surveillance of S. aureus transmission to monitor effectiveness and provide feedback on intraoperative infection control including for COVID-19, Perioperative Care and Operating Room Management Volume 20, September 2020, 100115