Infection Prevention in the Surgical ICU

Hospital-associated infections (HAIs) are a significant problem in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, with studies reporting HAI rates of up to almost 50% [1]. Furthermore, surgical and trauma ICU patient populations incur additional risks for infection related to their surgical procedures or injury. Although the type and prevalence of HAIs may vary based on the surgical population, there are general principles for infection prevention that can be applied across subgroups.