Here at UnaSource Surgery Center we pride ourselves on our low infection rate (only 0.16% of admissions in 2024), however, surgical site infection (SSI) is still a risk no matter where you have surgery. Read on to learn more about surgical site infections and what you can do to lessen your risk.
Surgical Site Infections Explained
Surgical site infections occur after surgery in the area of the body where the surgery took place. SSIs typically occur 30 days after surgery, but may occur several months after surgery. Surgical site infections are caused by germs that infect the surgical wound through various forms of contact, such as the touch of a contaminated caregiver, through germs in the air, or through germs that are already on your body. The human body typically hosts more than 200 species of normal flora, which under normal circumstances is harmless or even beneficial. However, disturbances in the normal flora, such as a surgical incision, may allow opportunistic microorganisms to cause an infection.
Types of Surgical Site Infections
- Superficial SSI – involving only the skin at the surface where the incision was made.
- Deep incisional SSI – involving the muscle and tissues surrounding the muscle.
- Organ or space SSI – involving the organs or any space between them. The skin, muscle and surrounding tissue that was involved in the surgery is not usually affected.
Possible Signs and Symptoms of Surgical Site Infection
- Redness
- Pain
- Tenderness
- Warmth
- Swelling
- Delayed healing
- Fever
- Cloudy drainage from the wound
- Abcess
Steps You Can Take to Help Prevent Surgical Site Infection
Before Surgery
Review any health problems you may have with your doctor. For example, smoking, obesity, or diabetes, and how they may impact your surgery and treatment.
- Smoking cessation is highly encouraged, as smoking directly impacts your body’s ability to heal after surgery. Among other things, smoking makes it more difficult for oxygen to reach your healing tissues. Smoking reduces the effectiveness of your immune system, allowing harmful bacteria to enter your body. It also makes it more difficult for your body to carry any medication used to treat infections. According to a study by the World Health Organization and others, every tobacco free week after 4 weeks improves health outcomes by 19% due to improved blood flow throughout the body to essential organs.
- Obesity has been associated with greater risk of surgical site infections because it causes delayed wound healing and a decreased immune response. Before and after your surgery, eat a well-balanced diet including lean proteins, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy fats. These foods will help strengthen your immune system and support tissue repair. It is also important to drink plenty of water. Proper hydration is necessary to bring essential nutrients to your healing tissues and flush toxins from your system. Avoid fried, sugary and over-processed foods, as well as caffeine and alcohol. These foods are full of empty calories, lack the essential nutrients that are needed to keep your immune system functioning properly, and slow the healing process.
- Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to poor wound healing, increased scarring, and wound infection. Uncontrolled diabetes increases chances of getting a wound infection after surgery from less than 2% to almost 18%. Eat lean proteins, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Monitor your glucose levels and take your insulin or other diabetic medications as ordered.
Within Two Weeks of Surgery
Obtain all lab work ordered by your doctor. Having the results of this lab work helps your surgeon to develop an individualized plan of care.
- If your doctor ordered mupirocin ointment (Bactroban), apply it as directed to both nares three times per day for five days. This helps keep normal flora at bay, decreasing its likelihood of causing an infection.
Do not shave the area where you will be having surgery for at least 5 to 7 days prior to surgery. A razor can irritate the skin and make you more vulnerable to infection. If hair removal is necessary, our nursing staff will use an electric clipper on the day of surgery to do this.
Morning of Surgery
Shower or bathe with antibacterial soap.
- If you are having total knee, total hip or total shoulder replacement or complex spine surgery, shower or bathe daily with 4% chlorhexidine gluconate wash two days prior to surgery and the morning of surgery. This also helps keep normal flora at bay, decreasing its likelihood of causing an infection.
Be sure to have clean linens on your bed and clean comfortable clothing and towels available to use after surgery.
Make sure you understand how to take care of your incision and who to contact if you have questions or concerns once you are at home.
During Recovery
- Be vigilant about hand hygiene. Hand hygiene is the single most effective tool to combat infection.
- Always clean your hands before and after caring for your surgical incision. Do not allow anyone, except your caregivers with clean hands, to touch the surgical incision.
- Visitors should clean their hands before and after seeing you.
- Do not allow pets near your incision.
If you have any signs or symptoms of infection, such as fever, redness, swelling or pain at the surgical site, or drainage from your incision contact your doctor immediately.