Patient education: Surgical site infection (The Basics)

What is a surgical site infection? — A "surgical site" is the part of the body where surgery was done. When the doctor makes a cut in the skin during surgery, this is called an "incision." Doctors also use the term "surgical wound."

If germs like bacteria get into the body through a surgical wound, it can cause infection. This is called a surgical site infection. It might only affect the skin, or it might spread deeper into the body. When this happens, it can be serious if it is not treated.

Surgical site infection is more likely to happen in people who:

●Smoke

●Are older

●Have certain health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, or problems with the blood vessels

●Take medicines that weaken the immune system (the body's infection-fighting system)

●Have malnutrition, meaning that they are not getting all of the nutrients their body needs

●Already have an infection in another part of their body

What are the symptoms of a surgical site infection? — Symptoms can include:

●Skin color changes, swelling, warmth, or increased pain around the wound

●Drainage from the wound

●Bad smell coming from the wound

●Streaks on the skin going away from the wound, or streaks going up your arm or leg

●Reopening of the incision

●Fever

Should I see a doctor or nurse? — Yes. If you had surgery and you notice any symptoms of infection, call your doctor or nurse. It's important to treat infection right away to keep it from getting worse.

Will I need tests? — It depends. For a minor infection, your doctor or nurse might just look at your incision and ask about your symptoms. If they think that the infection might be more serious, you might also get tests.

Tests might include:

●Imaging tests – Imaging tests create pictures of the inside of the body. They include ultrasound, CT scan, and MRI. These tests can help your doctor see if you have an infection or other problem deep under your skin.

●Wound culture – This is when the doctor takes a sample of cells from inside or near your incision. Then, they can test it to check for germs. Knowing what type of germ is causing the infection will help them figure out how best to treat it.

●Blood culture – This is when the doctor takes a sample of blood to check for germs. This might be done if you have symptoms of worsening infection, like a high fever or chills.

How is a surgical site infection treated? — In most cases, the doctor will first open and clean out the surgical wound. This usually involves just taking out the stitches and washing out the wound. For more serious infections, or if your surgery involved any artificial materials like mesh, this is done in an operating room.

The doctor will remove any stitches or staples that were used to close the wound. Then, they will clean out the wound and remove any infected fluid or tissue. In some cases, you might need another surgery to make sure that all infected tissue is removed.

Most people with a surgical site infection also get antibiotics. How you take them, and for how long, will depend on:

●How serious your infection is

●Your symptoms

●What type of bacteria is causing the infection

●If you had any mesh or hardware removed

After cleaning it out, the doctor will leave the wound open for a period of time. You might get a special dressing that uses vacuum suction to help the wound heal faster. Once the wound is clean and healing, your doctor might re-close it. If artificial material like mesh was removed, your doctor will talk to you about when to replace it. This depends on the type of material.

You will get instructions for how to care for your wound at home. It is very important to follow these instructions carefully to help your wound heal properly. You will probably need to have someone help you with your care. This might be a family member, friend, or home health nurse.

More on this topic

Patient education: Lowering the risk of a surgical site infection (The Basics)
Patient education: Caring for an open surgical wound (The Basics)
Patient education: Caring for a closed surgical wound (The Basics)
Patient education: Negative pressure wound therapy (The Basics)
Patient education: Stitches and staples (The Basics)
Patient education: Questions to ask if you are having surgery or a procedure (The Basics)