What is a Surgical Site Infection (SSI)?

A surgical site infection is an infection that occurs after surgery in the part of the body where the surgery took place. Most patients who have surgery do not develop an infection. However, infections develop in about 1 to 3 out of every 100 patients who have surgery.

Some of the common symptoms of a surgical site infection are:

• Redness and pain around the area where you had surgery
• Drainage of cloudy fluid from your surgical wound
• Fever above 101.5

Can SSIs be treated?

• Yes. Most surgical site infections can be treated with antibiotics. The antibiotic given to you depends on the bacteria (germs) causing the infection. Sometimes patients with SSIs also need another surgery to treat infection.

What are some of the things that hospitals are doing to prevent SSIs?

To prevent SSIs, doctors, nurses, and other health care providers:

• Clean their hands and arms up to their elbows with an antiseptic agent just before the surgery.
• Clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub before and after caring for each patient.
• May remove some of your hair immediately before your surgery using electric clippers if the hair is in the same area where the procedure will occur. They should not shave you with a razor.
• Wear special hair covers, masks, gowns, and gloves during surgery to keep the surgery area clean.
• Give you antibiotics before your surgery starts. In most cases, you should get antibiotics within 60 minutes before the surgery starts and the antibiotics should be stopped within 24 hours after surgery
• Clean the skin at the site of your surgery with a special soap that kills germs.

What can I do to help prevent SSIs?

Before your surgery:

• Tell your doctor about other medical problems you may have. Health problems such as allergies, diabetes, and obesity could affect your surgery and your treatment.
• Quit smoking. Patients who smoke get more infections. Talk to your doctor about how you can quit before your surgery.
• Do not shave near where you will have surgery. Shaving with a razor can irritate your skin and make it easier to develop an infection.

At the time of your surgery:

• Speak up if someone tries to shave you with a razor before your surgery. Ask why you need to be shaved and take with your surgeon if you have any concerns.
• Ask if you will get antibiotics before surgery

After your surgery:

• Make sure that your health care provider clean their hands before examining you, either with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.

• Family and friends who visit you should not touch the surgical wound or dressings.
• Family and friends should clean their hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub before and after visiting you. If you do not see them clean their hands, ask them to clean their hands.

What do I need to do when I go home from the hospital?

• Before you go home, your doctor or nurse should explain everything you need to know about taking care for your wound before you leave the hospital.
• Always clean your hands before and after caring for your wound.
• Before you go home, make sure you know who to contact if you have questions or problems after you get home.
• If you have any symptoms of an infections, such as redness and pain at the surgery site, drainage, or fever above 101.5, call your doctor immediately.

If you have additional questions, please ask your doctor or nurse.