Table 1

Surgical site infection classification according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Healthcare Safety Network (1)

Superficial incisional SSIDeep incisional SSI
Occurs within 30 dOccurs within 30 d
Only skin and subcutaneous tissueDeep soft tissues (fascial and muscle layers)
Patient has at least 1 of the following:

  1. Purulent drainage from incision

  2. Organisms identified from wound

  3. Superficial incision that is deliberately opened by surgeon

  4. Diagnosis of SSI by surgeon

Patient has at least 1 of the following:

  1. Purulent drainage from deep incision

  2. An incision that spontaneously dehisces or is deliberately opened or aspirated by surgeon, with or without culture

  3. Abscess or other evidence of infection that is detected on gross anatomic or histopathologic examination, or imaging

And patient has at least 1 of the following: pain or tenderness, localized swelling, erythema or heatAnd patient has at least 1 of the following: fever (temperature > 38°C), localized pain or tenderness

  • SSI = surgical site infection.