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Clinical audit of tetanus prophylaxis in open hand surgery

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European Journal of Plastic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Requirements of wound management include wound excision, cleansing, administration of antibacterials and prophylaxis against Tetanus. We performed a prospective study to highlight areas of concern and discrepancy between the national recommendations of Tetanus prophylaxis in patients with open hand injuries and the actual practice of a tertiary plastic surgery centre.

Methods

Data were collected on Tetanus immunisation status, wound type and prophylaxis administered to patients admitted to day surgery unit for wound exploration. Following the first group (A) analysis, teaching on Tetanus prophylaxis was provided. Second group (B) of patients was recruited to the study 8 weeks later.

Results

Both the quality of documentation and correct type of Tetanus prophylaxis administered improved by 46 and 66 %, respectively, in the post-teaching group.

Conclusions

Simple measures like teaching and distribution of guidelines improved clinical practice and reduced number of clinical errors.

Level of evidence: Level III, risk/prognostic study

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Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments to M. Moustaki for her help with the data collection and statistical analysis.

Conflict of interest

None.

Ethical standards

The study was approved by the clinical audit department from St Thomas Hospital.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic Surgery, St Thomas Hospital, Westminster Bridge Rd, London, SE1 7EH, UK

    Jurga Pikturnaite, Jamil Ahmed & Matthew James

Authors
  1. Jurga Pikturnaite
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  2. Jamil Ahmed
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  3. Matthew James
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jurga Pikturnaite.

Additional information

This work has been in part presented at the ASIT 2013 conference, Manchester, and as a result, its abstract was published in the International Journal of Surgery (2013).

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Pikturnaite, J., Ahmed, J. & James, M. Clinical audit of tetanus prophylaxis in open hand surgery. Eur J Plast Surg 38, 221–224 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-014-1045-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00238-014-1045-2

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