title: [Prevention of postoperative infections : Evidence-based principles].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgical site infections (SSI) are one of the most frequent postoperative complications worldwide and preventive measures are still an important research topic. High infection rates are not uncommon, especially in visceral surgery. At the same time, frequently not all evidence-based measures are carried out in a standardized manner. The aim of this article is to summarize the relevant literature on evidence-based measures for prevention of SSI. Although evidence-based medicine has already become well-established in surgery, the opinion of experts often still prevails.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current literature on preventive measures and recommendations was reviewed and the results are appraised.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Many different preventive measures could be identified in the literature, which can be classified into preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative measures. Recommendations for implementation of individual measures are made depending on the underlying evidence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The occurrence of SSI can effectively be reduced by adhering to evidence-based principles.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Transplantationschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120, Heidelberg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pianka
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral- und Transplantationschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 110, 69120, Heidelberg, Deutschland. andre.mihaljevic@med.uni-heidelberg.de.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Mihaljevic
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D011182:Postoperative Care; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Abdominal surgery; Antibiotics; Evidence-based medicine; Prevention; Surgical site infection (SSI)