Surgical Site Infections
A surgical site infection is an infection in the part of the body where a recent surgery took place. Our skin and body naturally have bacteria or germs, but if there is a cut or a break in the skin, this can make it easier for germs to get inside the body and cause infection.
What is this measure?
Johns Hopkins Medicine tracks how many surgical site infections (SSIs) occur after surgeries that it performs on children and how its performance compares to other hospitals that perform similar surgeries.
Why is it important?
Even though our medical teams take many steps to prevent SSIs from happening, they can happen in about 2% to 4% of all patients who have had a surgery. Patients with SSIs may feel sick or need more medical care.
What is Johns Hopkins Medicine doing to continue to improve?
Johns Hopkins Medicine medical teams follow evidence-based guidelines before, during and after surgery to prevent SSIs.
Examples of steps we take to prevent infections include:
- Using special skin cleansers before a surgery.
- Washing hands, using sterile technique and sterilized instruments to avoid germs from accidentally getting inside a patient’s body during surgery.
- Giving patients antibiotics for some types of surgeries.
- Monitoring a patient’s body temperature and blood sugar levels, if needed.
- Keeping bandages clean and helping wounds heal after surgery.
- Considering a patient’s nutrition before and after surgery.
Frontline Perspective
Rahul Koka, M.D.
Surgical Director, Quality and Logistics, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center
“As the surgical director, I receive all reports about SSIs at the Children’s Center. My job is to review these reports and find ways to reduce these infections.
We have regular meetings with the Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control and Surgery teams. In these meetings, nurses, surgeons, infection control experts and I discuss any SSIs. We look at the patients’ health charts, the treatments they received and whether our standard practices were followed. By using this information, we can improve our procedures to lower the risk of SSIs.
We have also started a learning team approach. We meet every week to go over high-risk surgery patients. We check their health information before they arrive and while they are in the hospital. This keeps everyone on the care team updated about the patient's health, any changes that need to be made and areas for improvement.”
How can patients and families support safety?
Patients and their families should talk to their doctor about any existing health problems that could increase the risk of a surgical site infection. The doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes to reduce the risk of infection, such as quitting smoking or changing diet.
Patients and families are usually given instructions on what to do the day before surgery. Following these instructions will help reduce germs on the skin and minimize unwanted cuts. Patients and families will also be given instructions on how to best care for the surgical wound once the patient is sent home.