[Prevention of postoperative wound infections]

Approximately 6.4 million operative procedures are carried out each year in Germany. Besides nosocomial pneumonia and urinary tract infections, postoperative wound infections account for 16% and are the third most common kind of infection in German hospitals. The spectrum of pathogens depends on the type and localization of the operative procedure. The pathogens can penetrate the wound from outside (exogenic) or from the patient's own skin or mucosal flora (endogenic). There are different kinds of risk factors whereby those of the patient can be influenced in a limited manner and are differentiated from those which can be influenced by preventive actions against infections in the context of the organization of perioperative nursing.