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The Cut that Counts: Surgical Site Infection Prevention Gets a Sharp Update.

Journal articles  - Journal Article, Review
Seidelman, J; Anderson, DJ
Published in: Infect Dis Clin North Am
September 2026

Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain the most prevalent and costly health care-associated infection, with rates that have plateaued or increased despite improvements in other infection metrics. This article reviews and synthesizes the 2022 Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America updated guidelines for SSI prevention, highlighting newly designated essential practices and re-evaluated strategies based on an expanded evidence base. Key updates include the elevation of targeted preoperative decolonization, combined oral and parenteral antibiotic prophylaxis for elective colorectal surgery, vaginal antiseptic preparation before cesarean delivery and hysterectomy, intraoperative antiseptic wound lavage, standardized bundles and checklists, and refined postoperative glucose control targets.

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Published In

Infect Dis Clin North Am

DOI

EISSN

1557-9824

Publication Date

September 2026

Volume

40

Issue

3

Start / End Page

567 / 582

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Surgical Wound Infection
  • Preoperative Care
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Microbiology
  • Infection Control
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Antibiotic Prophylaxis
  • 4202 Epidemiology
  • 3202 Clinical sciences
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Seidelman, J., & Anderson, D. J. (2026). The Cut that Counts: Surgical Site Infection Prevention Gets a Sharp Update. Infect Dis Clin North Am, 40(3), 567–582. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idc.2026.01.005
Seidelman, Jessica, and Deverick J. Anderson. “The Cut that Counts: Surgical Site Infection Prevention Gets a Sharp Update.Infect Dis Clin North Am 40, no. 3 (September 2026): 567–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.idc.2026.01.005.
Seidelman J, Anderson DJ. The Cut that Counts: Surgical Site Infection Prevention Gets a Sharp Update. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2026 Sep;40(3):567–82.
Seidelman, Jessica, and Deverick J. Anderson. “The Cut that Counts: Surgical Site Infection Prevention Gets a Sharp Update.Infect Dis Clin North Am, vol. 40, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 567–82. Pubmed, doi:10.1016/j.idc.2026.01.005.
Seidelman J, Anderson DJ. The Cut that Counts: Surgical Site Infection Prevention Gets a Sharp Update. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2026 Sep;40(3):567–582.
Journal cover image

Published In

Infect Dis Clin North Am

DOI

EISSN

1557-9824

Publication Date

September 2026

Volume

40

Issue

3

Start / End Page

567 / 582

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Surgical Wound Infection
  • Preoperative Care
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Microbiology
  • Infection Control
  • Humans
  • Female
  • Antibiotic Prophylaxis
  • 4202 Epidemiology
  • 3202 Clinical sciences