Patient Education: Surgical Site Infections

Prevention & FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions-Surgical Site Infection (SSI)
Found on the CDC’s website, this page provides FAQs to help protect patients from Surgical Site Infections.
View the CDC’s SSI FAQs

IHI 5 Million Lives Campaign-Prevent Surgical Site Infections A Fact Sheet for Patients & Families
This fact sheet can be downloaded from IHI.org. The sheet is available in English or Spanish. The sheet outlines information for the patient, family, and/or caregiver that will lower the risk of an infection as a result of surgery. Point include what to heath care providers prior to surgery and at the time of surgery.
*View the IHI Fact Sheet
*Registration on IHI.org is required to view the Fact Sheet

Tips for Safer Surgery
Found on Premier Inc. com who is a "supporting partnership organization" in the Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP). Tips for Safer Surgery provides patients with questions to ask the surgical team before surgery and information the patient should tell the health care provider that could potentially put the patient at high risk for surgical site infection. Also provides links to other resources that will help them better prepare for surgeries.
View the Tips for Safer Surgery

Prepare for Your Surgery
This is a brochure about what procedures a patient should follow before and after a surgery. What is most important about this brochure when concerning surgical site infections is that it provides instructions of how patients should properly cleanse themselves before surgery, how to cleanse the surgical site after surgery, and how to detect an infection after surgery.
View the Prepare for your Surgery Brochure

What You Can Do to Prevent Infections and Stay Healthy in the Hospital
This resource provided by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health shows that not only can healthcare providers in hospitals prevent hospital acquired infections, but so can patients. It provides helpful tips on preventing hospital infections for patients, before and after surgery.
View What You Can Do to Prevent Infections

Hand Hygiene

CDC’s Patient Admission Video-Hand Hygiene Saves Lives
Accessible via the CDC’s website, this video available in English and Spanish informs patients about the importance of hand hygiene in the hospital not only for them but for healthcare providers.
View the CDC Hand Hygiene Site

Surgical Site Infections-Discharge Care
Found on Drugs.com, from the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American College of Surgeons, geared towards educating patients on what they should do post discharge. Information includes medicines, follow-up visit and wound care.
View the Surgical Site Infections Webpage