What are Surgical Wound Infections?
A surgical wound infection, medically termed a Surgical Site Infection (SSI), happens when germs establish a colony and multiply within the incision made during an operation. These infections are precisely categorized according to how far they extend into the body’s tissues from the point of the surgical cut. The most common type is a superficial incisional SSI, which is limited to the area of skin where the surgeon made the incision.
A more serious infection can reach the muscle and connective tissue layers beneath the skin, an issue classified as a deep incisional SSI. In the most severe cases, the infection develops within an organ or the space between organs that was involved in the surgery itself. This is known as an organ or space SSI and represents a much greater health challenge.
Causes:- Patient's Own Flora: Microorganisms that naturally live on a person's skin or inside their body are the most common source, as they can be transferred into the wound during surgery.
- Environmental Contaminants: Germs from the operating room environment, such as those present in the air or on inadequately sterilized surgical instruments, can settle into the open incision.
- Contact Transmission: Microbes can be passed from the surgical team to the patient through direct contact if there is an unforeseen break in sterile procedure, like a microscopic hole in a glove.
- Certain Medical Conditions: Individuals with issues like diabetes or diseases that weaken the immune system have a reduced capacity to fight off infections at the wound site.
- Smoking: The use of tobacco constricts blood vessels, impairing blood flow and slowing the delivery of oxygen and essential healing nutrients to the incision area.
- Lengthy or Emergency Surgery: Operations that are particularly long or performed under urgent conditions inherently carry a greater chance for microbial contamination.
- Poor Nutrition: A diet lacking in key nutrients, such as proteins and vitamins, can deprive the body of the fundamental materials needed for effective tissue repair.
