Surgical Site Infections (SSI)

What are we measuring?

An infection can occur where the surgery was performed. The infection can be in the skin or in the deeper tissues where the surgery was performed. Surgical site infections are the second most common type of infection that happens when a person is hospitalized.

How are we performing?

At UPMC our goal is to reduce or eliminate the number of infections as a result of being in the hospital.

We monitor healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) across the UPMC system by using a standardized infection ratio (SIR).

What are we doing to improve?

UPMC takes many proven steps to prevent surgical site infections:

• Asking patients to bathe using chlorhexidine wash before surgery.
• Giving antibiotics at the start of surgery.
• Following all sterile Operating Room [OR] procedures which includes thorough handwashing, sterile gloves and gowns, sterile instruments, and drapes, and providing fresh, filtered air in the OR.
• Inspecting and caring for the incision as directed.

View the Surgical Site Infection (SSI) rates by UPMC hospital below:

*These hospitals did not have enough information to calculate a SSI SIR.