Hanyang Med Rev.  2011 Aug;31(3):159-166. 10.7599/hmr.2011.31.3.159.

Surgical Site Infection

• Choi HJ

• KMID: 2168193
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7599/hmr.2011.31.3.159

Abstract

Surgical site infections (SSI) are the third most important cause of iatrogenic infection in the hospital setting. SSI is known to be preventable in up to 35% of cases if active infection control procedures are implemented. Although there have been significant improvements in prevention of SSI due to changes in the operating environment, surgical techniques, and surgical prophylaxis, it is hard to avoid surgical site infection completely. Therefore, the effective prevention of SSI continues to include surveillance and feedback to surgeons. Herein, a clear standard for defining and reporting of SSI is provided, and current knowledge concerning the epidemiology, risk factors, prevention and treatment of SSI is reviewed.

Keyword

Surgical Site Infection; Surgical Prophylaxis; Surveillance

MeSH Terms

Infection Control
Risk Factors

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The classification of surgical site infection(Ref. 6 with permission from The University of Chicago Press).

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