title: Surgical site infections.
abstract: Surgical site infections are a major contributor to morbidity and mortality in postsurgical care. Risk for surgical site infection is multifactorial and includes a host of microbial, patient-related, and procedure-related factors. Prevention of surgical infection relies on optimization of patient factors and use of a variety of evidence-based pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic measures. At the forefront of these measures is antimicrobial prophylaxis, which has been shown to be effective at reducing risk of surgical site infection. As guidelines for prevention of surgical site infection become increasingly complex and nuanced, surgical infection outcomes are increasing tied to quality outcome and performances measures.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 8440-112 Street Northwest, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7, Canada.
authors.forename: Pang Y
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 8440-112 Street Northwest, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7, Canada; Division of Critical Care Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 8440-112 Street Northwest, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2B7, Canada. Electronic address: khadaroo@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Rachel G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Khadaroo
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D061214:Patient Safety; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000379:methods; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Antibiotic prophylaxis; Infection control; Postoperative complication; Surgical site infection; Surgical wound infections