Management of culture-negative surgical site infections

Abstract

Infections at the surgical site delays wound healing, prolongs hospitalization, increases morbidity and the overall costs. These issues are compounded when the postoperative infection is culture-negative. This article outlines the general principles of managing postoperative surgical site infections, with an emphasis on culture-negative infections. Practical issues, in the absence of positive culture are discussed, together with practice points to minimize the incidence of culture-negative surgical site infections.

Keywords

• Surgical site infections
• Gram positive
• Gram negative
• bacterial culture
• culture negative SSIs