Epidemiology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Epidemiology, including details on twin studies, statistics, environmental and genetic factors.

Surgical wound infection: epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and management.

Rubin RH

Harvard Medical School, Boston MA, 02115, USA. rhrubin@partners.org

Surgical wound infection remains a significant problem following an operation, although surveillance for such infections remains a challenge exacerbated by early discharge and outpatient surgery. The risk of such infections is determined by technical problems with the operation, particularly bleeding, the amount of devitalized tissue created, and the need for drains within the wound, as well as such metabolic factors as obesity and diabetes. Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis can decrease the incidence of such infections further, but a technically perfect operation is even more important.

Published 7 December 2006 in BMC Infect Dis, 6: 171.
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