Collection

Surgical site infection (SSI): guidance, data and analysis

UKHSA helps hospitals record incidents of surgical site infection (SSI), to help improve surgical practice and prevent further infections.

• From: UK Health Security Agency
• Published: 14 February 2014
• Last updated: 24 August 2021 — See all updates

A surgical site is the incision or cut in the skin made by a surgeon to carry out a surgical procedure, and the tissue handled or manipulated during the procedure.

A surgical site infection occurs when micro-organisms get into the part of the body that has been operated on and multiply in the tissues.

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) helps hospitals record incidents of surgical site infection (SSI), to help improve surgical practice and prevent further infections.

Guidance

• Healthcare associated infection (HCAI): operational guidance and standards
  • 6 July 2012
  • Guidance

Data collection

• Surgical site infection surveillance service (SSISS)
  • 22 September 2022
  • Guidance
• Surgical site infection surveillance service: protocol and guides
  • 19 April 2022
  • Guidance
• Surgical site infection surveillance service: registration form
  • 23 June 2023
  • Form
• Monitoring surgical wounds for infection: information for patients
  • 22 September 2022
  • Guidance

Epidemiology

Annual reports on SSI from 2011 and earlier are available from the health protection website archive.

• Surgical site infections (SSI) surveillance: NHS hospitals in England
  • 19 December 2023
  • Research and analysis

Diagnosis

• AMRHAI reference unit: reference and diagnostic services
  • 31 July 2024
  • Guidance

Privacy

• Surgical site infection surveillance privacy notice
  • 22 September 2022
  • Guidance

Published 14 February 2014
Last updated 24 August 2021 + show all updates

1. 24 August 2021

   Added link to Surgical site infection surveillance privacy notice.

2. 14 February 2014

   First published.