Approximately 0.5% to 3% of patients who undergo surgery will develop an infection at or near the surgical incision site.
Most surgical infections can be prevented if appropriate strategies are implemented. This infection usually occurs at the time of surgery.
The development of infection depends on various factors such as the health of the patient’s immune system,
the presence of foreign materials and implants such as plates and screws in orthopedic surgery,
the degree of contamination of the wound with germs,
and the use of antibiotic prophylaxis.
and the use of antibiotic prophylaxis. Although many strategies have been recommended by international organizations to reduce surgical site infection, only 6 general strategies are supported by a scientific study of randomized trials.
- Interventions associated with lower infection rates include avoiding the use of razors for hair removal
- Decolonization with intranasal antistaphylococcal agents and antistaphylococcal skin antiseptics for high-risk procedures
- Use of chlorhexidine gluconate as an alcoholic dermatological preparation (4.0% with chlorhexidine gluconate plus alcohol
vs. 6.5% with povidone-iodine plus alcohol)
- Maintain normal body temperature with heating such as warm IV fluids, skin warmers, and warm air to keep body temperature warmer than 36°C
- Controlling blood sugar around surgery (before, during, and after surgery).
- And the use of negative pressure wound therapy.
Guideline recommendations
are based on appropriate dosing, timing, and choice of preoperative parenteral antibiotic prophylaxis.
Conclusions
Avoiding razors for hair removal, maintaining normal body temperature,
using chlorhexidine gluconate in addition to alcohol-based skin preparation agents, decolonization with intranasal antistaphylococcal agents and antistaphylococcal skin antiseptics for high-risk surgical procedures,
controlling blood sugar concentrations around surgery, and using negative pressure wound therapy can reduce the rate of surgical site infections.