Definition
A surgical site infection (SSI) is an infection linked to recent surgery. Most SSIs involve just the skin. Some may infect deep tissue or organs.
The sooner an SSI is treated, the better the outcome.
Surgical Site Infection Near the Ankle |
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Risk Factors
Factors that may increase your chance an SSI are:
- Poor blood circulation
- Prior infection
- Trauma
- Foreign body in the wound, like a surgical mesh used for a hernia repair
- Smoking
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Long-term medical conditions
- Heart disease
- Lung disease
- Weakened immune system
- Age (elderly and very young)
Symptoms
An SSI may cause:
- more than 100.5ºF 48 hours or more after surgery
- Chills
- Fast heart rate
- Chest pain
-
Symptoms in the area where the surgery took place:
- Redness
- Drainage
- Pus
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bad smell
Diagnosis
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and past heath. Your wound will be checked.
Tests may include the following:
Treatment
Treatment options include:
- Antibiotics—may be given as pills or through IV
-
Surgery—to clean out the infection
- The wound may need to be reopened.
- It can be flushed with fluid to clean out pus.
- Special dressing—to help keep area dry and clean
Prevention
To help reduce your chance of an SSI, your doctor may recommend the following:
- An antibiotic just before surgery
- Antibiotics if there were signs of an infection at time of surgery
- Lose weight before the surgery
- Stop smoking
- Wash your skin with an antiseptic soap before your surgery
RESOURCES
American College of Surgeons https://www.facs.org
Centers for Disease Control https://www.cdc.gov
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons http://plasticsurgery.ca
Wounds Canada https://www.woundscanada.ca
References
Healthcare-associated infections (HAI). Centers for Disease Control website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/hai. Accessed October 2, 2019.
Stevens DL, Bisno AL, Chambers HF, et al. Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft tissue infections: 2014 update by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Clin Infect Dis. 2014;59(2):e10-e52.
Surgical site infection—prevention. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T316886/Surgical-site-infection-prevention . Accessed October 2, 2019.
Suspected surgical site infection - approach to the patient. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/topics/dmp~AN~T922624/Suspected-surgical-site-infection-approach-to-the-patient . Accessed October 2, 2019.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: EBSCO Medical Review Board Donald W. Buck II, MD
- Review Date: 09/2019
- Update Date: 06/12/2020