Challenges in the Prevention of Surgical Site Infections in India

Abstract

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are health-care-associated infections that burden not only patients undergoing various surgical procedures but the health-care facilities providing care as well. Although preventable, SSIs contribute to complicated and lengthy hospital stays for patients undergoing surgeries, especially in developing countries more than in developed nations. Anticipating and implementing measures to curtail such preventable events in a health-care facility are of utmost importance in providing quality health care. Enhancing and strengthening infection control practices lie in the hands of all health-care workers coming in contact with a patient from the time of admission to discharge. The standard guidelines and protocols are in place by various organizations worldwide on SSI prevention. These guideline-based recommendations are discussed in this review to guide clinicians, microbiologists, infection control specialists, and nurses to excel in safe surgery practices, thereby achieving effective and sustainable patient care. Apart from this, hurdles in our country and ways of handling the same are also discussed.