Abstract
Surgical site infection (SSI) following colorectal surgery is associated with worse
postoperative outcomes, longer length of stay, and higher rates of readmission. SSI
rates have been established as a surrogate metric for the overall quality of surgical
care and are intricately tied to financial incentives and the public reputation of
an institution. While risk factors and prevention mechanisms for SSI are well established,
the rates of SSI remain high. This article discusses the clinical and economic impact
of SSI and strategies for mitigating the risk of SSI through bundled prevention practices.
Keywords
surgical site infection - economic impact of SSI - surgical site infection prevention
bundles - cost - complications