BACKGROUND Surgical site infection (SSI) rates are publicly reported as quality metrics and increasingly used to determine financial reimbursement. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the volume-outcome relationship as well as the year-to-year stability of performance rankings following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery and hip arthroplasty. RESEARCH DESIGN We performed a retrospective cohort s...

Surgical site infections (SSIs) lead to adverse patient outcomes, including prolonged hospitalization and death. Wound contamination occurs with each incision, but proven strategies exist to decrease the risk of SSIs. In particular, improved adherence to evidence-based preventative measures related to appropriate antimicrobial prophylaxis can decrease the rate of SSI. Aggressive surgical debrid...

Surgical infections represent a common and serious problem in everyday clinical practice. Surgical site infections, after elective or emergency gastrointestinal or vascular operations, is a commonly encountered problem associated with considerable morbidity and mortality in the surgical patient (1, 2). In addition, idiopathic necrotic infections, such as necrotizing fasciitis, carry high mortal...

This article examines the epidemiology and risk factors for the development of surgical site infections (SSIs), the importance of appropriate administration of prophylactic antibiotics, nonpharmacologic strategies, and the role of new "active" devices in reducing SSIs. A review of the pertinent English-language literature shows that many factors contribute to the risk of a patient developing an...

Primitive ancestors of Homo sapiens and their colonizing bacteria have coevolved for approximately 500,000 years; some experts estimate that the total number of human cells is 1013 and the total number of colonizing microbes is 1014. Despite this 10-to-1 inequity, the balance of power is influenced by an intact human immune system and the integrity of the skin and mucous membranes. Operative pr...