The human and economic cost of surgical site infections
Surgical site infections (SSI) are a huge health problem worldwide. SSI is a common postoperative complication in vascular, obstetric, gynecologic, gastric, thoracic, and cardiovascular surgery. It prolongs hospitalization and contributes to significant morbidity and mortality.1,2
SSIs associated with the increase in antibiotic resistance have also become a therapeutic challenge for physicians worldwide.
- SSIs are the second most common nosocomial (hospital acquired) infections.3
- An SSI is estimated to add approximately 3–21 days to a patient’s hospital stay. This results in additional treatment costing between 900€–7300€4, depending on the type of surgery and severity of the infection.2,4
