Table 1.

Definitions and clinical characteristics of surgical site infections according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Healthcare Safety Network criteria

Distinction	Superficial incisional SSI	Deep incisional SSI		Organ/space infections
Localization	Subcutaneous tissue and/or skin	Fascial and muscle layers		Organ manipulated during surgery
Timing	Within 30 d post-surgery		Within 30 or 90 d post-surgery/1 yr (implant in place)
Diagnosis at least one of the following
Pain	Yes	Yes		Yes
Swelling	Yes	Inconstant		Inconstant
Erythema or heat	Yes	Inconstant		Inconstant
Purulent drainage	Yes (superficial)	Yes (from deep incision)		No
Wound dehiscence	Yes (superficial)	Yes		No
Culture	Yes	Recommended		Recommended
Abscess	No	Yes		Yes
Fever (temperature > 38 °C)	Inconstant	Yes		Yes

SSI: Surgical site infection.