Preventing Surgical Site Infections: A Clinical Perspective

Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) are associated with increased morbidity and higher healthcare costs. Given that most SSIs are considered preventable when using evidence-based strategies, SSI has become an important subject of quality improvement studies as well as a metric for surgeon compensation. Various organizations have issued guidelines for the prevention of SSIs that address patient-specific risk factors, and interventions aimed at the prehospital, hospital, and post-discharge stages of care. In this review, we reconcile 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 grade of the 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 to prevent SSIs.