The effect of patient transfer type to the operating room on surgical site infection: Concerns versus evidence

Abstract

Background: Concerns about surgical site infection (SSI) give rise to practices and procedures not evidence-based. Objectives: This study investigates whether the type of patient transfer to operating rooms plays a role in developing surgical site infection. Methods: Three thousand four hundred and seventy-one patients were divided into two groups: transfer group with stretcher (ST) (n = 1699) and patient bed transfer group (PBT) (n = 1772). The data of the two groups and the SSI rates were comparatively analyzed. Results: The SSI rate was 2.5% (n = 43) in the ST group and 2.8% (n = 49) in the PBT group, and there was no statistically significant difference. Both types of patient transfer had similar effects on the probability of SSI development. The odds ratio was 1.095 for stretcher transfer while 0.913 for patient bed transfer. Conclusion: Patients transfer to operating rooms on their beds are comfortable and safe. Furthermore, it has a similar effect to stretcher transfer on the probability of surgical site infection. Therefore, it is safer and cheaper to act based on evidence instead of trusting our concerns.

Keywords

• Patient transfer. Surgical site infection. Patient bed. Stretcher.