Bacteriology & Antibiotics

Surgical site infections (SSIs)

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the most common hospital-acquired infections. Surgical site infections are defined as infections occurring up to 30 days after surgery and affecting either the incision or deep tissue at the operation site. Surgical site infections considered as a major problem in health care centers, resulting in extended length of stay, substantial associated morbidity and mortality, and high excess hospital cost. Infections after surgery are caused by germs. The most common of these include the bacteria Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Pseudomonas. Germs can infect a surgical wound through various forms of contact, such as from the touch of a contaminated caregiver or surgical instrument, through germs in the air, or through germs that are already on or in your body and then spread into the wound. Most SSIs can be treated with antibiotics.