The number of surgical procedures performed in the industrialised nations of Europe is steadily increasing. Between 2005 and 2023, the number of surgeries in Germany has steadily increased.1 The prevention of surgical site infections (SSI, postoperative wound infection) is therefore becoming an increasingly important issue2, all medical procedures being associated with an increased risk of infection. As a leading provider of pi in SSI prevention – not only by offering approproneering medical devices and hygiene products, Lohmann & Rauscher has set itself the goal of supporting patients and healthcare professionalsiate solutions and products but also by providing information about SSI.
Nosocomial postoperative wound infection is mostly caused by pathogenic bacteria, in rare cases also in combination with fungi. However, the range of pathogens may vary depending on the operation area/type of operation. The bacteria most commonly associated with SSI include3:
Although experts agree that it is not possible to reduce the infection rate to zero, SSI prevention is well worth the effort; for example, 40% of all nosocomial infections can be prevented by proper hand hygiene alone.4
SSI prevention requires systematic action; a marked reduction in the risk of infection can only be achieved with the proper implementation of infection prevention. Thus, to help ensure the successful implementation of preventive measures, health authorities have been issuing guidelines and recommendations for many years.
This includes the most recent recommendations from April 2018 of the Robert Koch Institute, Commission for Hospital Hygiene and Infection Prevention (KRINKO) on the Prevention of Wound Infection. The KRINKO guidelines cover pre- and intra- as well as postoperative measures and does not distinguish between outpatient and inpatient surgery with regard to SSI risk.5
The KRINKO guidelines on SSI prevention show how complex the subject is but also make it clear how many simple and readily implementable measures can effect an improvement.
In this article, learn about the recommended pre-, intra-, and postoperative measures with high levels of evidence (I and II) and download practical overview posters.
Additionally, the article includes a helpful patient information sheet available for download, designed to support the entire ‘journey’ before, during, and after surgery.
1) gbe-bund.de: Vollstationäre Operationen und Behandlungsmaßnahmen in Krankenhäusern in Deutschland im Zeitraum 2005 bis 2023. https://de.statista.com/statistik/daten/studie/76889/umfrage/operationen-und-behandlungsmassnahmen-in-deutschen-krankenhaeusern/ Last Access: December 2024
2) Infektionen verhindern: Surgical Site Infections – Die Geschichte der Prävention. https://prevent-and-protect.de/surgical-site-infections-die-geschichte-der-praevention/. Last Access: December 2024.
3) Prävention postoperativer Wundinfektionen: Empfehlung der Kommission für Krankenhaushygiene und Infektionsprävention (KRINKO) beim Robert Koch-Institut. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz. 2018 Apr;61(4):448-473
4) Global Guidelines for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection. World Health Organization 2016. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241550475. Last Access: December 2024.
