Surgical Site Infections (SSI)
An Introduction to Surgical Site Infections
Before the mid-19th century, surgical patients commonly
developed postoperative “irritative fever,” followed
by purulent drainage from their incisions, overwhelming
sepsis, and often death. It was not until the late 1860s, after
Joseph Lister introduced the principles of antisepsis, that
postoperative infectious morbidity decreased substantially.
Lister’s work radically changed surgery from an activity
associated with infection and death to a discipline that
could eliminate suffering and prolong life.
Date last modified: September 27,
2005
Content source:
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP)
National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases
Content source:
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion (DHQP)
National Center for Preparedness, Detection, and Control of Infectious Diseases