Wound Infections/ Surgical Site Infections (SSI)
Infection Wound Infections / Surgical site infections (SSI) Brief outline/clinical setting Accounts for 20% of all hospital-acquired infections. Divided into the categories of - superficial incisional SSI (skin or subcutaneous tissue), - deep incisional SSI (fascia or muscular layers), and - organ/space SSI (any part of the body opened or manipulated during a procedure, excluding the previously m
| Infection | Wound Infections / Surgical site infections (SSI) |
| Brief outline/clinical setting |
Accounts for 20% of all hospital-acquired infections. Local signs of pain, swelling, erythema, and purulent drainage provide the most reliable information in diagnosing an SSI. |
| Aetiologies/organisms | S. aureus, Streptococci spp, Enterobacterales, Enterococci spp, P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii, anaerobes, Candida spp |
| Optimal antimicrobial selection | Please consult microbiology for specific empiric antimicrobial selection, based on unit specific epidemiology, and directed therapy based on culture results. |
| Rationale | The most important therapy for an SSI is to open the incision, evacuate the infected material, and continue dressing changes until the wound heals by secondary intention |
| Level of evidence | RCT |
| Link to Guideline | Click here |