Surgical site infections (SSIs) occur at or near the surgical incision within 30 days of an operation (or up to 90 days if prosthetic material was implanted). These infections are a major contributor to postoperative morbidity and mortality, significantly prolong hospital stays, increase treatment costs, and worsen health outcomes. SSIs remain one of the most common healthcare-associated infections worldwide.
Microbiology of SSIs The pathogens responsible for SSIs predominantly originate from the patient’s endogenous flora that gain access to deeper tissues during surgery. Skin flora: Aerobic gram-positive cocci, especially Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-resistant strains, MRSA), are the most frequent causes of SSIs. Visceral entry: Surgical entry into the gastrointestinal or genitourinary tract exposes tissues to gram-negative bacilli (e.g., Escherichia coli),…
