Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 8, 2026
Surgical Closure of Equine Abdomen, Prevention, and Management of Incisional Complications
Published on: May 10, 2024
Surgical site infection definitions consensus: a first step toward improving prevention in veterinary medicine
Denis R Verwilghen1,2, Augusta Pelosi3, Mohamed Abbas4
1Sydney School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Objective:
To establish specific veterinary surgical site infection (SSI) terminology to support the creation of consistent, comparable, and repeatable clinical and research datasets.
Methods:
Establishment of SSI definitions by iterative Delphi questionnaires leading to a convergence of consensus opinion by a multidisciplinary panel of 32 specialists in large- and small-animal surgery (European College of Veterinary Surgeons, American College of Veterinary Surgeons), veterinary internal medicine (American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, European College of Equine Internal Medicine), anesthesia (European College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia), critical care (American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, European College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care), dentistry (European Veterinary Dental College), microbiology, preventive medicine (American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine), animal welfare (European College of Animal Welfare and Behavioural Medicine), and human infection control. Consensus was defined as agreement by a minimum of 75% of panel members.
Results:
The panel defined 18 terms for veterinary use, including those for superficial, deep, and organ/space infections; surgical procedure; pyrexia; wound classification and closure; and agreements on SSI monitoring timeframes.
Conclusions:
A common clinical and research language appropriate to the veterinary field useable in future SSI surveillance practice has been established through expert consensus.
Clinical Relevance:
The use of a standard SSI language in veterinary practice is central to the future reliability of studies, their comparison, and the understanding of clinical risk factors in the development and prevention of SSI.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:28Asepsis
01:20Infection
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
01:26Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic
HAIs significantly increase the cost of health care. Extended stays in healthcare institutions, increased disability, increased costs of medications, including specialized antibiotics, and prolonged recovery times add to the patient's expenses and the healthcare institution and funding bodies.
01:21Inflammatory Bowel Disease V: Surgical Management
Here are some common surgical interventions for IBD:
01:26Standard Precaution
Hand hygiene is the most crucial means to prevent the transmission of disease. Employers are legally required to provide their workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure or contact with...