title: Surgical site infection: A comparison of multispecialty and single specialty outpatient facilities.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reoperation secondary to surgical site infections can be a devastating complication in orthopaedic surgery. Infection rates in the ambulatory setting have been reported to be lower than those cited in a hospital setting. However, a direct comparative analysis of infection rates of orthopaedic procedures performed in a single specialty ambulatory surgical center (ASC) versus a multi-specialty ASC has, to our knowledge, not been performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four surgeons performed more than 10,000 orthopaedic surgeries in a multispecialty and single specialty ambulatory setting over 8 years. These procedures were reviewed for postoperative deep infection within one year of initial operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The post-surgical deep infection rate in a multi-specialty ASC was 0.81% in 2867 operations compared with a rate of 0.38% in 7311 operations performed in a single specialty ASC (p = 0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that the rate of infection leading to reoperation was significantly lower in a single specialty ambulatory surgery setting as opposed to one accommodating multiple specialties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Emory School of Medicine, Emory Orthopaedic and Spine Center, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Emory School of Medicine, Emory Orthopaedic and Spine Center, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gottschalk
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Emory School of Medicine, Emory Orthopaedic and Spine Center, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
authors.forename: Geanie
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Butts
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xerogeanes
keywords: Ambulatory surgical center; Infection; Postoperative