Infection
Reducing the risk of surgical site infections
Jennie Walker Principal lecturer, Institute of Health and Allied Professions, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, England
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• To refresh your knowledge of the causes of, and risk factors for, development of surgical site infections
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• To be aware of a range of strategies to prevent the development of surgical site infections
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• To recognise the importance of adopting a holistic approach to prevention and management of surgical site infections
Surgical site infections (SSIs) are commonly reported healthcare-acquired infections that can have a detrimental effect on patient outcomes and quality of life. SSIs are associated with longer periods of hospitalisation and increased patient morbidity and mortality. A rigorous approach is required to identify and manage the risk of infection across the preoperative, intraoperative and post-operative phases of care. This article describes the causes of, risk factors for development and signs and symptoms of SSIs. The author emphasises the importance of a collaborative, holistic and multidisciplinary approach to the prevention and management of SSIs, which involves the nurse and other healthcare professionals working in partnership with the patient.
Nursing Standard.
doi: 10.7748/ns.2023.e12185
Peer review
This article has been subject to external double-blind peer review and checked for plagiarism using automated software
@JennieW14
Correspondence
Conflict of interest
None declared
Walker J (2023) Reducing the risk of surgical site infections. Nursing Standard. doi: 10.7748/ns.2023.e12185
Published online: 11 September 2023
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