Surgical site infection (SSI) continues to represent a significant portion of healthcare-associated infections. The impact on morbidity, mortality, and cost of care has resulted in SSI reduction being identified as a top national priority in the US Department of Health and Human Services Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections.
The majority of SSIs are largely preventable and evidence-based strategies have been available for over ten years and implemented in many hospitals, as nationally recognized by SCIP and SHEA in the US. Worldwide attention to safer surgery including prevention of SSI led to the development of the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist demonstrating the importance of teamwork and communication in addition to evidence-based care for preventing SSI.