title: Surgical site infections in gynecology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Surgical site infections (SSIs) are preventable, yet nearly 2% of all surgical cases are complicated by an SSI. Each SSI increases the cost of a postoperative hospital stay by more than $10,000. Thus, SSI prevention has become the focus of health care systems and hospitals because it is a reducible health care cost.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this review was to better understand the guidelines and recommendations related to the prevention, diagnosis, and management of SSIs.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study is a thorough review of the most up-to-date peer-reviewed articles and review articles as well as guidelines and recommendations of various professional organizations including the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A review of the literature has identified several evidence-based recommendations that physicians should adhere to in an effort to decrease the incidence of SSIs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By adhering to clinical recommendations and evidence, we can correctly prevent, diagnose, and treat SSIs. In turn, this will improve health outcomes and decrease health care-related costs, thus increasing the value of health care that we provide to patients. Furthermore, we can gain improvements in the quality measures used by hospitals and insurers.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Fellow, Section of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Black
authors.affiliation: Resident, Section of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Haydu
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Section of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Section of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT.
authors.forename: Sangini S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sheth
mesh_terms: D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000592:standards; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D058106:Wound Closure Techniques