[Current possibilities to influence surgical site infection]

Infections associated with surgical procedures, also referred to as surgical site infections (SSIs), are the most common nosocomial infections (HAIs - Health Care-Associated Infections) in surgery departments. Although effectively preventable in most cases, they are still associated with significant morbidity and mortality, prolonged or repeated hospitalizations and increased treatment costs. Therefore, compliance with applicable procedures and guidelines is essential for SSI prevention, which was also shown in numerous EBM studies. Relevant procedures and clinical guidelines involve all phases of perioperative care, covering preoperative patient preparation, the course of the surgical procedure itself, as well as post-operative care. In order to effectively reduce the risk of postoperative infectious complications, these proven principles and procedures need to be implemented into daily practice with every single surgical patient. Continuous monitoring of compliance with these procedures, staff education, recording the incidence of SSI in individual departments with regular evaluation and presentation of results should form an integral part of these measures.Key words: surgical site infection - incidence - risk factors - prevention - guidelines.