Table I.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for the diagnosis of superfi cial SSI.

Characteristics of superfcial SSI
1.	Purulent drainage, with or without laboratory confrmation, from the superfcial incision.
2.	Organisms isolated from an aseptically-obtained culture of fuid or tissue from the superfcial incision.
3.	At least one of the following signs or symptoms of infection: Pain or tenderness, localized swelling, redness or heat and and superfcial incision deliberately opened by surgeon, unless the incision is culture-negative.
4.	Diagnosis of superfcial incisional SSI by the surgeon or attending physician.

Superfcial SSI occurs within 30 days of an operation and involves only the skin or subcutaneous tissue surrounding the incision and at least one of the abovementioned characteristics. SSI, surgical site infection.