A surgical site infection (SSI) develop when bacteria infiltrate the body through surgical incisions.[1] These bacteria may come from the patient's own skin, the surgical instruments, or the environment in which the procedure is performed.[2]
An infection is designated as an SSI if it develops at the site of a surgical wound, either because of contamination during surgery or as a result of postoperative complications. For the infection to be classified as an SSI, it should occur within 30 days after surgery or within 1 year if an implant is involved.[3]
Surgical site infections that are limited to the skin and subcutaneous tissues are classified as superficial incisional SSIs. These infections are the most common type, accounting for more than 50% of all reported surgical site infections.[3]
The symptoms of a surgical site infection (SSI) can vary depending on the severity and type of infection. Common signs include redness and pain around the area of the surgical wound. A cloudy or purulent fluid may drain from the wound, indicating infection. Fever is another common symptom, which may accompany other signs such as increased warmth, swelling, or delayed healing at the surgical site. Additional symptoms may also occur, depending on the nature and extent of the infection.[4]
SSIs occur in different areas such as skin, tissue, organs, "implanted material, like a hip replacement".[4]
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies SSIs into three categories: superficial incisional, deep incisional, and organ/space infections.
The microorganisms responsible for surgical site infections (SSIs) are often derived from endogenous flora. The specific pathogens involved typically vary depending on the type of surgical procedure performed. Among the most frequently identified organisms are staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci, enterococcus faecalis, and escherichia coli. These pathogens reflect the microbiological environment of the surgical field and the body sites exposed during the operation.[6]
SSIs are a significant cause of complications following surgery, contributing to both perioperative morbidity and mortality. These infections are responsible for a large number of healthcare-associated infections globally, including over 2 million cases annually in the United States alone.[3]
A study conducted by researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine, published in 2024 and featured by the University of Minnesota[7] and the American Association for the Advancement of Science,[8] and Nature[9] involved 210 adult patients undergoing spinal fusion surgery and found that most infections following surgery were caused by bacteria already present on the patients' skin.[10]
The researchers aimed to understand why surgical site infections (SSIs), which occur in about 1 in 30 surgeries, have not decreased despite infection prevention measures. They analyzed preoperative patient microbiomes and postoperative SSI samples using genomic analysis.[11]
Of the 210 patients, 14 (6.8%) developed SSIs. Skin, nasal, and rectal samples were taken before surgery from most patients. Whole genome sequencing of 22 SSI samples revealed that 86% were similar to bacterial strains found on the patients' skin before surgery. Further analysis of 59 additional SSIs in the same hospital showed no common bacterial strains, suggesting that the infections were not linked to external hospital sources.[11]