CDC surgical site infection (SSI) criteria
Intensive care and infectious diseases
Also known as: Postoperative Wundinfektion nach CDC (SSI) · CDC cerrahi alan enfeksiyonu tanımı · CDC/NHSN surgical site infection (SSI) definitions
What it is for
Surveillance definitions of a surgical site infection (SSI) after an NHSN operative procedure (day 1 = day of the procedure), by the deepest tissue layer involved.
Classification
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| Superficial incisional SSI | within 30 days; only skin and subcutaneous tissue of the incision; plus at least one of: purulent drainage from the superficial incision; organism(s) from an aseptically obtained specimen of the incision or subcutaneous tissue; incision deliberately opened or aspirated by the surgeon/physician with local pain or tenderness, swelling, redness or heat and antimicrobial therapy started or continued; diagnosis of superficial incisional SSI by the surgeon/physician. |
| Deep incisional SSI | within 30 or 90 days depending on the procedure category (NHSN Table 2); deep soft tissues of the incision (fascia, muscle); plus at least one of: purulent drainage from the deep incision; organism(s) from deep incisional tissue; deep incision deliberately opened, aspirated or spontaneously dehisced with fever >38 °C or local pain/tenderness and antimicrobial therapy; abscess or other evidence of infection of the deep incision on gross anatomical or histopathological examination or imaging. |
| Organ/space SSI | within 30 or 90 days depending on the procedure category; any organ or space deeper than the fascia/muscle layers; plus at least one of: purulent drainage from a drain placed into the organ/space; organism(s) from organ/space fluid or tissue; abscess or other evidence of infection on gross anatomical or histopathological examination or imaging; AND the criteria for a specific organ/space infection site (NHSN chapter 17). |
Source
Surgical Site Infection Event (SSI), Patient Safety Component Manual chapter 9
CDC National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN), January 2026
- Edition
- CDC National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Patient Safety Component Manual, SSI chapter, January 2026
- Checked on
Summary of the published classification in our own words. Not a substitute for the original publication.
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