Reducing Surgical Site Infections

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the most common healthcare-associated infections among surgical patients and are associated with substantial morbidity and increased costs. Given that most SSIs are considered preventable when using evidence-based strategies, SSI has become an important quality improvement and pay-for-performance metric. Various organizations, both nationally and internationally, have developed guidelines for the prevention of SSIs that address patient-specific risk factors, as well as interventions aimed at the prehospital, hospital, and post-discharge stages of care. In this chapter, we reconcile among the SSI prevention guidelines from three organizations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, World Health Organization, and the American College of Surgeons/Surgical Infection Society. These guidelines agree on the majority of preventative measures. Each guideline also addresses additional measures based on the level and quality of evidence established for the guideline, as well as the target audiences and priorities for each organization. Guidelines for SSI prevention are important, but their success depends on sound implementation and compliance. Sustained efforts from all healthcare providers and organizational leaders are crucial for preventing SSIs.