Healthcare-Associated Infections: Surgical Site Infections (SSI)

Infectious agent:  Healthcare-Associated Infections: Surgical Site Infections (SSI)

Description of illness:  A surgical site infection (SSI) is an infection that occurs after surgery in the part of the body where the surgery took place. These infections may involve only the skin or may be more serious and involve tissue under the skin or organs. SSIs sometimes take days or months after surgery to develop. Symptoms may include fever, redness or pain around the surgical site, or drainage of fluid from the wound.

This disease/condition should be reported through the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN).