| Did you know that surgical site infections are the most | | | | appropriate standard protocol. |
| common type of infection in the U.S., occurring in 5 | | | | That protocol, unfortunately, is not always a top priority. |
| percent of all surgery patients, according to the U.S. | | | | When healthcare providers get careless and cause a |
| Centers for Disease Control? That equals more than | | | | serious SSI, they can be held accountable for their |
| half a million patients that will develop a surgical site | | | | mistakes with a medical malpractice lawsuit, just like |
| infection after having a surgical procedure. | | | | with other types of surgical errors. |
| Surgical Site Infection, Defined | | | | Typical causes of surgical site infections include: |
| The general medical definition of a surgical site | | | | • Inappropriate surgical and post-surgical techniques |
| infection (SSI) is an infection that develops within 30 | | | | • Unsanitary surgical instruments or surgical |
| days after a surgery was performed. | | | | environment |
| Why Should We Care About Surgical Site Infections? | | | | • Failure to administer antibiotics • Inadequate |
| According to Infection Control Today, patients who get | | | | sterilization of surgical site |
| an SSI require a substantial amount of additional | | | | • Failure to treat or diagnose a current infection at |
| medical care than someone who did not. In fact, when | | | | time of surgery |
| an SSI personal injury develops, a patient is 60 percent | | | | • Failure of medical personnel to wear clean scrubs, |
| as likely to spend time in Intensive Care after surgery | | | | use a face mask, cover their hair and correctly |
| than someone who does not have the issue. Plus, | | | | prepare their hands for surgery |
| patients with SSI can plan on an increased hospital | | | | • Surgical room ventilation issues |
| stay of two weeks, on average, and are up to five | | | | • Shaving hair from the surgical site versus clipping |
| times more likely to be readmitted to the hospital. | | | | • A surgery that goes on for too long |
| In addition, surgical site infections can lead to even | | | | • Leaving a foreign object inside the incision |
| more serious complications and in some cases, death. | | | | Signs of an Surgical Site Infection |
| Causes of Surgical Site Infections | | | | Doctors should always provide information to patients |
| Research studies have long-concluded that most | | | | explaining the possible symptoms of a post-surgery |
| surgical site infections can be prevented when doctors, | | | | infection. |
| nurses and other medical practitioners follow the | | | | |