Surgical site infections

Abstract

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a worldwide problem that has far reaching implications on patient morbidity and mortality as well as significant financial implications. Worldwide it has an incidence of between 2-5%, with an incidence as high as 20% in colorectal surgery.¹ It is the third most common nosocomial infection, and the most common nosocomial infection amongst surgical patients with up to 38% of nosocomial infections being due to surgical site infections.⁶ On average, it increases length of hospital stay by 7-10 days and in America in 2002, it was estimated to cost between $3 000 - $30 000 per incident of a surgical site infection. This cost estimate excluded cost to the patient after discharge from hospital.¹ Patients whose surgery was complicated by a SSI had a 2-11% higher risk of death. In those patients who died, 75% was directly attributable to the SSI.¹