Table 1 CDC definitions of SSI[39]

Involves only skin or subcutaneous tissue and meets at least one of the following:

Involves deep soft tissues (fascial and muscle layers) and meets at least one of the following:

Involves any part of the anatomy (organs or spaces) and meets at least one of the following:

• Purulent drainage from the superficial incision;

• Purulent drainage from the deep incision but not from the organ/space component of the surgical site;

• Purulent drainage from a drain that is placed through a stab wound into the organ/space;

• Organisms isolated from an aseptically obtained culture of fluid or tissue from the superficial incision;

• A deep incision that spontaneously dehisces or is deliberately opened by a surgeon when the patient has at least one of the following signs or symptoms: fever (>38°C), localized pain or tenderness, unless the incision is culture-negative;

• Organisms isolated from an aseptically obtained culture of fluid or tissue in the organ/space;

• At least one of the following signs or symptoms of infection: pain or tenderness, localized swelling, redness or heat, and the superficial incision is deliberately opened by surgeon unless the incision is culture-negative;

• An abscess or other evidence of infection involving the deep incision is found on direct examination, during reoperation, or by histopathologic or radiologic examination;

• An abscess or other evidence of infection involving the organ/space that is found on direct examination, during reoperation, or by histopathologic or radiologic examination;

• Diagnosis of superficial incisional SSI by the surgeon or attending physician.

• Diagnosis of deep incisional SSI by the surgeon or attending physician.

• Diagnosis of an organ/space SSI by the surgeon or attending physician.