Page 40 - Prevention and Treatment of Incisional Hernia- New Techniques and Materials

Chapter 2
Appendix 1
Criteria for de ning a Surgical Site Infection (SSI)
Super cial Incisional SSI
Infection occurs within 30 days after the operation and infection involves only skin or subcutaneous tissue of the incision and at least one of the following:
1. Purulent drainage, with or without laboratory con rmation, from the super cial incision.
2. Organisms isolated from an aseptically obtained culture of uid or tissue from the super cial incision.
3. At least one of the following signs or symptoms of infection: pain or tenderness, localized swelling, redness or heat and super cial incision is deliberately opened by surgeon, unless incision is culture-negative.
4. Diagnosis of super cial incisional SSI by the surgeon or attending physician.
Do not report the following conditions as SSI:
1. Stitch abscess (minimal in ammation and discharge con ned to the
points of suture penetration).
2. Incisional SSI that extends into the fascial and muscle layers (see deep
incisional SSI).
Deep Incisional SSI
Infection occurs within 30 days after the operation if no implant is left in place or within 1 year if implant is in place and the infection appears to be related to the operation and infection involves deep soft tissue (e.g., fascial and muscle tissue) of the incision and at least one of the following:
1. Purulent drainage from the deep incision but not from the organ / space component of the surgical site.
2. A deep incision spontaneously dehisces or is deliberately opened by a surgeon when the patient has at least one of the following signs or symptoms: fever (>38°C), localized pain, or tenderness, unless site is culture negative.
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