Abstract. Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) continue to pose a significant challenge to postoperative safety, accounting for a substantial proportion of healthcare-associated infections in low- and middle-income countries. Despite ongoing advancements in surgical techniques and infection-prevention protocols, inconsistencies in perioperative practices and adherence to guidelines contribute to the sustained burden of SSIs. International and local guidelines emphasize that nurses play a pivotal role in implementing core SSI-prevention strategies, including antimicrobial prophylaxis, skin antisepsis, aseptic technique, normothermia and glycemic control, and postoperative wound surveillance. In the Philippines, reports of persistent infection rates in high-risk surgeries highlight the need to strengthen perioperative nursing practices. At the Philippine Heart Center (PHC), where patients undergo complex cardiovascular procedures, nurse-led perioperative strategies are essential to reducing infection risk. However, limited research has explored how perioperative nurses perceive, implement, and experience these strategies within this specialized setting. This study employed a qualitative descriptive design to examine the experiences, perceived roles, challenges, adherence to protocols, and perspectives of PHC perioperative nurses regarding SSI-prevention practices. Data were collected through an open-ended Google Form and analyzed using thematic analysis. Key themes revealed nurses’ commitment to evidence-based practice, the importance of interdisciplinary communication, barriers to consistent protocol adherence, and the influence of workplace systems on their ability to prevent SSIs. Findings demonstrate that nurse-led perioperative strategies significantly shape the consistency and effectiveness of infection-prevention efforts. The study offers insights that may guide improvements in perioperative workflow, strengthen guideline implementation, and enhance nurse-driven interventions aimed at reducing SSIs in cardiovascular surgical settings. These conclusions underscore the vital role of perioperative nurses in promoting safer surgical care and inform future practice, education, and policy development. Keywords: nurse-led strategies; Perioperative nursing; Philippine Heart Center; qualitative study; SSI prevention; thematic analysis
Mark Kenneth L. Miguel (2026) studied this question.
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