If you are having surgery, you may be concerned about a bacterial infection after your procedure. While these infections are often preventable with good wound care and frequent hand washing, some patients do experience aninfection after surgerythat can lead to long-term harm.
A bacterial infection after surgery can be relatively minor and leads to redness or pus in or around the incision.These infections are typically easily treated. More serious infections can be more challenging to treat and can lead to an extended hospital stay and serious illness. It is these more severe infections that enter the bloodstream, urinary, or respiratory tract, and the infection may move outside of the surgical site or even begin in an unrelated part of the body.
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Identifying Bacteria
Bacteria are tiny, so small that they cannot be identified without a microscope. To determine what type of bacteria is present in an ill patient, a sample of the body fluid suspected to be infected is taken. This fluid may be blood, urine, saliva, sputum, or even a sample of fluid taken from the body during surgery. In order to better identify the bacteria, it is cultured, meaning the sample is placed in a petri dish and encouraged to grow. Once the bacteria grows for several days, the sample is much larger and can be placed under a microscope for identification.
Once the type of bacteria is identified, the sensitivity is determined. This means that the sample is exposed to different types of antibiotics, the one that damages the bacterial sample the most — the antibiotic the bacteria is most “sensitive” to — is typically the one used to treat the infection.
Healthcare-Associated Infections
These infections typically begin in the hospital or healthcare setting in the early days of recovery and, for that reason, are referred to as hospital-acquired infections or more commonly healthcare- associated infections (HAI).When these infections happen at the site of surgery they are referred to as Surgical Site Infections (SSI). These types ofinfectionsare typically treated with one or more IV antibiotics.
Some better-known healthcare-associated infections are:
Staphylococcus Aureus
Approximately one-third of Americans carryStaphylococcus aureus, also known as “staph”, in their noses.Most people never know they are carrying thebacteria, as it causes no harm to most well individuals. When staph enters a surgical incision or another part of the body, it can cause a serious infection such as pneumonia. Staph is treated with antibiotics.
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
Vancomycin Resistant Staphyloccocus Aureus (VRSA)
VRSA is a type ofStaphylococcus aureusthat has developed the ability to resist treatment with vancomycin, a powerful antibiotic.
Enterococci
Enterococci are bacteria typically part of the normal flora of the digestive tract and the female reproductive tract. When found in those locations, enterococci are typically not harmful and play a role in maintaining good health.
Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE)
VRE is a type of Enterococci that is resistant to treatment with Vancomycin. When found in an incision or the blood, VRE can quickly cause a very serious infection.
Acinetobacter
This type of bacteria is naturally found in water and soil. It is typically not a problem for healthy individuals or even surgical patients, as anAcinetobacterinfection is rarely found outside of the hospital setting. In fact, the individuals who are most likely to become ill with anAcinetobacterinfection are individuals who are already dealing with an illness that is severe enough to require treatment in a critical care unit.
Klebsiella
15 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.O’Brien WJ, Gupta K, Itani KMF.Association of postoperative infection with risk of long-term infection and mortality.JAMA Surg. 2020;155(1):61. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2019.4539MedlinePlus.Surgical wound infection treatment.National Healthcare Safety Network.Surgical site infection event (SSI).Abayasekara LM, Perera J, Chandrasekharan V, et al.Detection of bacterial pathogens from clinical specimens using conventional microbial culture and 16S metagenomics: a comparative study.BMC Infect Dis. 2017;17(1):631. 10.1186/s12879-017-2727-8Khan ZA, Siddiqui MF, Park S.Current and emerging methods of antibiotic susceptibility testing.Diagnostics. 2019;9(2):49. doi:10.3390/diagnostics9020049Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).Voidazan S, Albu S, Toth R, Grigorescu B, Rachita A, Moldovan I.Healthcare associated infections-a new pathology in medical practice?Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(3):760. doi:10.3390/ijerph17030760Sakr A, Brégeon F, Mège JL, Rolain JM, Blin O.Staphylococcus aureusnasal colonization: an update on mechanisms, epidemiology, risk factors, and subsequent infections.Front Microbiol. 2018;9:2419. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2018.02419Self WH, Wunderink RG, Williams DJ, et al.Staphylococcus aureuscommunity-acquired pneumonia: prevalence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes.Clin Infect Dis. 2016;63(3):300-309. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciw300Harris A.Patient education: methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.Cong Y, Yang S, Rao X.Vancomycin resistantStaphylococcus aureusinfections: A review of case updating and clinical features.J Adv Res. 2019;21:169-176. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2019.10.005Krawczyk B, Wityk P, Gałęcka M, Michalik M.The many faces ofEnterococcusspp.-commensal, probiotic and opportunistic pathogen.Microorganisms. 2021;9(9):1900. doi:10.3390/microorganisms9091900Sivaradjy M, Gunalan A, Priyadarshi K, Madigubba H, Rajshekar D, Sastry AS.Increasing trend of vancomycin-resistant enterococci bacteremia in a tertiary care hospital of south India: a three-year prospective study.Indian J Crit Care Med. 2021;25(8):881-885. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10071-23916Rebic V, Masic N, Teskeredzic S, Aljicevic M, Abduzaimovic A, Rebic D.The importance of Acinetobacter species in the hospital environment.Med Arch. 2018;72(3):330. doi:10.5455/medarh.2018.72.330-334Seo HK, Hwang JH, Shin MJ, et al.Two-year hospital-wide surveillance of central line-associated bloodstream infections in a Korean hospital.J Korean Med Sci. 2018;33(45). doi:10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e280
15 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.O’Brien WJ, Gupta K, Itani KMF.Association of postoperative infection with risk of long-term infection and mortality.JAMA Surg. 2020;155(1):61. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2019.4539MedlinePlus.Surgical wound infection treatment.National Healthcare Safety Network.Surgical site infection event (SSI).Abayasekara LM, Perera J, Chandrasekharan V, et al.Detection of bacterial pathogens from clinical specimens using conventional microbial culture and 16S metagenomics: a comparative study.BMC Infect Dis. 2017;17(1):631. 10.1186/s12879-017-2727-8Khan ZA, Siddiqui MF, Park S.Current and emerging methods of antibiotic susceptibility testing.Diagnostics. 2019;9(2):49. doi:10.3390/diagnostics9020049Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).Voidazan S, Albu S, Toth R, Grigorescu B, Rachita A, Moldovan I.Healthcare associated infections-a new pathology in medical practice?Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(3):760. doi:10.3390/ijerph17030760Sakr A, Brégeon F, Mège JL, Rolain JM, Blin O.Staphylococcus aureusnasal colonization: an update on mechanisms, epidemiology, risk factors, and subsequent infections.Front Microbiol. 2018;9:2419. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2018.02419Self WH, Wunderink RG, Williams DJ, et al.Staphylococcus aureuscommunity-acquired pneumonia: prevalence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes.Clin Infect Dis. 2016;63(3):300-309. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciw300Harris A.Patient education: methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.Cong Y, Yang S, Rao X.Vancomycin resistantStaphylococcus aureusinfections: A review of case updating and clinical features.J Adv Res. 2019;21:169-176. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2019.10.005Krawczyk B, Wityk P, Gałęcka M, Michalik M.The many faces ofEnterococcusspp.-commensal, probiotic and opportunistic pathogen.Microorganisms. 2021;9(9):1900. doi:10.3390/microorganisms9091900Sivaradjy M, Gunalan A, Priyadarshi K, Madigubba H, Rajshekar D, Sastry AS.Increasing trend of vancomycin-resistant enterococci bacteremia in a tertiary care hospital of south India: a three-year prospective study.Indian J Crit Care Med. 2021;25(8):881-885. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10071-23916Rebic V, Masic N, Teskeredzic S, Aljicevic M, Abduzaimovic A, Rebic D.The importance of Acinetobacter species in the hospital environment.Med Arch. 2018;72(3):330. doi:10.5455/medarh.2018.72.330-334Seo HK, Hwang JH, Shin MJ, et al.Two-year hospital-wide surveillance of central line-associated bloodstream infections in a Korean hospital.J Korean Med Sci. 2018;33(45). doi:10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e280
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
O’Brien WJ, Gupta K, Itani KMF.Association of postoperative infection with risk of long-term infection and mortality.JAMA Surg. 2020;155(1):61. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2019.4539MedlinePlus.Surgical wound infection treatment.National Healthcare Safety Network.Surgical site infection event (SSI).Abayasekara LM, Perera J, Chandrasekharan V, et al.Detection of bacterial pathogens from clinical specimens using conventional microbial culture and 16S metagenomics: a comparative study.BMC Infect Dis. 2017;17(1):631. 10.1186/s12879-017-2727-8Khan ZA, Siddiqui MF, Park S.Current and emerging methods of antibiotic susceptibility testing.Diagnostics. 2019;9(2):49. doi:10.3390/diagnostics9020049Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).Voidazan S, Albu S, Toth R, Grigorescu B, Rachita A, Moldovan I.Healthcare associated infections-a new pathology in medical practice?Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(3):760. doi:10.3390/ijerph17030760Sakr A, Brégeon F, Mège JL, Rolain JM, Blin O.Staphylococcus aureusnasal colonization: an update on mechanisms, epidemiology, risk factors, and subsequent infections.Front Microbiol. 2018;9:2419. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2018.02419Self WH, Wunderink RG, Williams DJ, et al.Staphylococcus aureuscommunity-acquired pneumonia: prevalence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes.Clin Infect Dis. 2016;63(3):300-309. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciw300Harris A.Patient education: methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.Cong Y, Yang S, Rao X.Vancomycin resistantStaphylococcus aureusinfections: A review of case updating and clinical features.J Adv Res. 2019;21:169-176. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2019.10.005Krawczyk B, Wityk P, Gałęcka M, Michalik M.The many faces ofEnterococcusspp.-commensal, probiotic and opportunistic pathogen.Microorganisms. 2021;9(9):1900. doi:10.3390/microorganisms9091900Sivaradjy M, Gunalan A, Priyadarshi K, Madigubba H, Rajshekar D, Sastry AS.Increasing trend of vancomycin-resistant enterococci bacteremia in a tertiary care hospital of south India: a three-year prospective study.Indian J Crit Care Med. 2021;25(8):881-885. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10071-23916Rebic V, Masic N, Teskeredzic S, Aljicevic M, Abduzaimovic A, Rebic D.The importance of Acinetobacter species in the hospital environment.Med Arch. 2018;72(3):330. doi:10.5455/medarh.2018.72.330-334Seo HK, Hwang JH, Shin MJ, et al.Two-year hospital-wide surveillance of central line-associated bloodstream infections in a Korean hospital.J Korean Med Sci. 2018;33(45). doi:10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e280
O’Brien WJ, Gupta K, Itani KMF.Association of postoperative infection with risk of long-term infection and mortality.JAMA Surg. 2020;155(1):61. doi: 10.1001/jamasurg.2019.4539
MedlinePlus.Surgical wound infection treatment.
National Healthcare Safety Network.Surgical site infection event (SSI).
Abayasekara LM, Perera J, Chandrasekharan V, et al.Detection of bacterial pathogens from clinical specimens using conventional microbial culture and 16S metagenomics: a comparative study.BMC Infect Dis. 2017;17(1):631. 10.1186/s12879-017-2727-8
Khan ZA, Siddiqui MF, Park S.Current and emerging methods of antibiotic susceptibility testing.Diagnostics. 2019;9(2):49. doi:10.3390/diagnostics9020049
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.About healthcare-associated infections (HAIs).
Voidazan S, Albu S, Toth R, Grigorescu B, Rachita A, Moldovan I.Healthcare associated infections-a new pathology in medical practice?Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(3):760. doi:10.3390/ijerph17030760
Sakr A, Brégeon F, Mège JL, Rolain JM, Blin O.Staphylococcus aureusnasal colonization: an update on mechanisms, epidemiology, risk factors, and subsequent infections.Front Microbiol. 2018;9:2419. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2018.02419
Self WH, Wunderink RG, Williams DJ, et al.Staphylococcus aureuscommunity-acquired pneumonia: prevalence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes.Clin Infect Dis. 2016;63(3):300-309. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciw300
Harris A.Patient education: methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) (Beyond the Basics). UpToDate.
Cong Y, Yang S, Rao X.Vancomycin resistantStaphylococcus aureusinfections: A review of case updating and clinical features.J Adv Res. 2019;21:169-176. doi:10.1016/j.jare.2019.10.005
Krawczyk B, Wityk P, Gałęcka M, Michalik M.The many faces ofEnterococcusspp.-commensal, probiotic and opportunistic pathogen.Microorganisms. 2021;9(9):1900. doi:10.3390/microorganisms9091900
Sivaradjy M, Gunalan A, Priyadarshi K, Madigubba H, Rajshekar D, Sastry AS.Increasing trend of vancomycin-resistant enterococci bacteremia in a tertiary care hospital of south India: a three-year prospective study.Indian J Crit Care Med. 2021;25(8):881-885. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10071-23916
Rebic V, Masic N, Teskeredzic S, Aljicevic M, Abduzaimovic A, Rebic D.The importance of Acinetobacter species in the hospital environment.Med Arch. 2018;72(3):330. doi:10.5455/medarh.2018.72.330-334
Seo HK, Hwang JH, Shin MJ, et al.Two-year hospital-wide surveillance of central line-associated bloodstream infections in a Korean hospital.J Korean Med Sci. 2018;33(45). doi:10.3346/jkms.2018.33.e280
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