How to Prevent Infection after Surgery | FOX 11 News.
Patient Advocate Alicia Cole shared this story with the IHI Patient Advocacy group on Facebook. One surgeon at Cedar-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, Dr. Shirin Towfigh, is reporting a six fold drop in infection rates by probing post-surgical wounds each day with a cotton swab.
The story didn’t include any opposing views, much scientific evidence or additional sources — but it could be the start of a robust medical conversation. I wonder what triggered the physician to try this in the first place?
Alicia’s story is buried deeper in the story — she developed a life-threatening infection in a hospital that she says didn’t place a high priority on cleanliness. (Perhaps there is a connection here: could cotton swab wound probing serve as a hand-washing reminder to providers? Just a thought…)
Do you know of any other doctors or hospitals testing this treatment?
