Surgical Site Infections Following Ambulatory Surgery Procedures

Abstract

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are among the most common health care–associated infections. Surgical site infections account for 20% to 31% of health care–associated infections in hospitalized patients^1,2 and have considerable morbidity, a mortality rate of 3%, stays prolonged by 7 to 10 days, and costs of $20 000 to $27 600 per admission.^2-5 Reducing SSIs is a national priority, as reflected in the US Department of Health and Human Services’ National Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections.⁶ Initially focused on high-priority areas related to health care–associated infections within acute care hospitals, the action plan broadened to address additional types of health care settings, including ambulatory surgery.⁷ Although ambulatory surgeries represent a substantial portion of surgical health care, there is a dearth of information on adverse events, including health care–associated infections following operations performed in the ambulatory setting.^8-10