Time to event* | Extent of tissue involvement | Clinical features | Criteria for diagnosis | |
Superficial incisional SSI¶ | Within 30 days of NHSN procedureΔ | Skin and subcutaneous tissue |
| At least one clinical feature AND at least one of the following:
|
Deep incisional SSI¶ | Within 30 or 90 days of NHSN procedureΔ | Deep soft tissues of the incision such as the fascia and muscle layers |
|
|
Organ/space SSI | Within 30 or 90 days of NHSN procedureΔ | Any part of the body deeper than the fascia/muscle layers that was opened or manipulated during the procedure | Clinical features for specific organ/space can be found at the CDC website§ As an example, for intra-abdominal infection, at least two of the following:
| Appropriate clinical features specific to the organ/space AND at least one of the following:
|
SSI: surgical site infection; NHSN: National Health Safety Network; CDC: Centers for Disease Control.
* Day 1 is the procedure date.
¶ SSI can occur in a primary incision or a secondary incision among those undergoing an operation with one or more incisions.
Δ Depends on the surveillance period of the specific procedure.
◊ Typically copious drainage from the incision sufficient to warrant inspection of the fascia to ensure its integrity and to rule out incisional hernia or fasciitis. Fluid and tissue cultures should be obtained. The following do NOT meet the criteria for superficial SSI: cellulitis, stitch abscess, stab (eg, drain not laparoscopic port) or pin site infection, infection in non-NHSN procedures (eg, circumcision), burn wound infection.
§ Additional information can be found at: https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/PDFs/pscManual/17pscNosInfDef_current.pdf.
¥ Percutaneous or surgical drain.
‡ Based on microbiologic testing performed for purposes of clinical diagnosis or treatment (eg, not surveillance).Do you want to add Medilib to your home screen?