Superficial incisional infection | Deep incisional infection |
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SSI that occurs within 30 days of surgery, involves only the skin or subcutaneous tissue of the incision & meets at least one of the following criteria: | 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 superficial incision | 1. Purulent drainage from deep incision (not organ space) |
2. Culture of organisms and pus cells present: | 2. Organisms from culture and pus cells present in: |
fluid / tissue from superficial incision wound swab from superficial incision | Fluid / tissue from deep incision or wound swab from deep incision |
3. At least 2 symptoms of inflammation: | 3. Deep incision dehisces or deliberately opened and patient has at least 1 symptom of: |
Pain, tenderness, localised swelling, redness, heat and either: | |
1) Incision deliberately opened to manage infection | Fever or localised pain/tenderness |
OR | 4. Abscess or other evidence of infection in deep incision: |
Re-operation / histopathology / radiology | |
2) Clinicians diagnosis of superficial SSI | 5. Clinicians diagnosis of deep incisional SSI |
Note: Stitch abscesses (minimal inflammation/discharge at suture point) do not classify as SSI | Note: An infection involving both superficial and deep incisional = deep incisional inflammation/discharge at suture point) do not classify as SSI |