Postoperative infection is a major cause of patient injury, mortality and health care cost: 

• An estimated 2.6 percent of nearly 30 million operations are complicated by surgical site infections (SSIs) each year. 
• Infection rates, up to 11 percent, are reported for certain types of operations. 
• Each infection is estimated to increase a hospital stay by an average of 7 days and add over $3,000 in charges (1992 data). 
• Appropriate preoperative administration of antibiotics is effective in preventing infection.

How-to Guide: Prevent Surgical Site Infection
Developed as part of IHI's 100,000 Lives Campaign

How-to Guide: Reduce Surgical Complications
Developed as part of IHI's 5 Million Lives Campaign