Even in this modern age, the risk of surgical site infections (SSI) is significant. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports there are more than 14 million inpatient operative procedures conducted each year. Of those patients, 1 to 3 percent will develop one of three types of surgical site infection: superficial, deep and space. SSIs are currently the leading cause of readmissions and come with a 3 percent mortality rate and a 16.6 billion dollar price tag.
Many aspects influence the development of an SSI, but perioperative care ranks as one of the top influencing factors. The goal of perioperative care is to lower the risk of an SSI. Developing perioperative strategies for surgical site infection minimizes that risk while improving patient outcomes.