Surgical Site Infection

Date published:  October 2008
State: Published

Following the decision taken earlier this year to suspend development of this guideline, NICE is pleased to announce that it has commissioned the National Collaborating Centre for Women’s and Children’s Health (NCC-WCH) to undertake the further development work that will ensure the guideline addresses the key clinical needs within the topic area.

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a postoperative complication occurring within 30 days following a surgical procedure and is an important cause of morbidity and mortality for patients undergoing surgery.

Patient-related conditions and operation characteristics may influencethe risk of SSI development. The assessment and identification of the presence of these factors facilitates both surveillance and the implementation of targeted prevention measures. In addition, the incidence of infected surgical wounds may be influenced by factors such as preoperative care, the operating room environment, postoperative care, type of surgery, and care in the community.

Guideline Details:

Guideline (NICE version)

Guideline (Full version)

Evidence Tables

Search Strategies

Excluded Studies

Costing Statement

Quick Reference Guide

Understanding NICE Guidance

Press Release

BMJ Guideline Summary, published 28 October 2008

For more information, please see the associated webpage on the NICE website.

For general enquiries, please contact us at enquiries@ncc-wch.org.uk.

Page updated 7th November 2008