Surgical Site Infection

Abstract

Surgical Site Infection (SSI) accounts for 15% of all nosocomial infections. Post surgical infection leads to higher readmission, increased length of postoperative hospital stay which drastically escalate expenses and jeopardize health outcomes. In majority of SSI cases, the pathogen source is the native flora of the patient's skin, mucous membranes, or hollow viscera. Many factors influence surgical site wound infection which broadly comprises of factor relating to surgery, patient and sterilization techniques. Among them,duration of surgery, tissue handling and level of bacterial burden are important and most significant risk factors. Fewer bacteria are required to produce an infection in the presence of necrotic tissue,foreign bodies, hematomas, seromas and poor tissue perfusion. There is also a considerable variation in infection rate according to the type of surgery performed, surgical technique, skin preparation and timings of wound closure. Antibiotic prophylaxis has also a positive impact after certain types of surgical procedures. Many other factors have also been identified as having an effect on the potential for infection. Healthcare professionals should consider these before, during and after surgery. The modern surgical techniques and the use of prophylactic antibiotics have reduced the risk of surgical site infection significantly.