Table 2 Health protection agency definition of deep surgical site infection

SSI involving the deep tissues (i.e. fascial & muscle layers), within 30 days of surgery (or 1 year if an implant is in place) and the infection appears to be related to the surgical procedure & meets at least one of the following criteria:

1.

Purulent drainage from deep incision (not organ space)

2.

Organisms from culture and pus cells present in:

Fluid/tissue from deep incision or wound swab from deep incision

3.

Deep incision dehisces or deliberately opened and patient has at least 1 symptom of:

Fever or localised pain/tenderness

4.

Abscess or other evidence of infection in deep incision:

Re-operation/histopathology/radiology

5.

Clinicians diagnosis of deep incisional SSI