Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesRisk FactorsPreventionSummary
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Risk Factors
Prevention
Summary
Common signs of a surgical infection include fever, pain, swelling, and a pus-like discharge. Depending on the type of surgery you had, the infection may not only affect the skin where the incision was made, but your muscles and internal organs.
If a surgical infection is severe and not treated appropriately, it can spread into the bloodstream, causingsepticemia(blood poisoning) andseptic shock(a related, life-threatening drop in blood pressure).
This article explains the types, symptoms, and causes of surgical site infections, as well as how they are prevented and when it is time to see a healthcare provider.
Verywell / Joshua Seong
Types of Infections After Surgery
A surgical site infection (SSI) occurs when an incision and/or underlying tissue is contaminated with bacteria.
There are three types of SSIs:
Kidney and Urinary Tract Problems After Surgery
Symptoms of Surgical Site Infections
Generally speaking, the symptoms of an open or space SSI are more significant than those of a deep incisional SSI. The symptoms of a deep SSI tend to be worse than with a superficial incisional SSI.
Even so, all three conditions can progress if not treated correctly. If some cases, the infection can spread into the bloodstream, causing a severe systemic (whole-body) infection.
Additional symptoms of an SSI can differ based on the type of SSI you have:
Complications
If not properly treated, an infection after surgery can spread into the bloodstream and cause a systemic infection calledsepticemia.
Symptoms of septicemia include:
If not treated immediately, septicemia can trigger the overreaction of the immune system, leading to a potentially life-threatening condition known assepsis.
Sepsis is a medical emergency that can lead toshock, coma, or deathif left untreated.
When to Call a Healthcare ProviderCall your healthcare provider immediately if you develop a fever, pus, or pain, redness, swelling, and heat on or around the surgical incision.
When to Call a Healthcare Provider
Call your healthcare provider immediately if you develop a fever, pus, or pain, redness, swelling, and heat on or around the surgical incision.
Causes of Surgical Site Infections
Contamination of surgical wounds can happen:
Risk Factors for SSIs
An infection after surgery can happen to anyone, but it is more likely when a procedure:
People at increased risk of infection for different reasons are also at higher risk for infection after surgery. Some of the most common risk factors include:
How to Care for a Surgical Incision
Prevention of Surgical Infections
There are things you can do to significantly reduce your risk of surgical site infections before and after surgery.
Among the tips:
You can also ask your surgeon for advice based on the type of surgery you are undergoing.
A postoperative infection, also referred to as surgical site infection (SSI), is a potentially serious complication of surgery. Symptoms include increasing pain, swelling, redness, and heat at the incision site along with fever, chills, and a pus-like discharge.
If left untreated, the infection can spread into the bloodstream and causes sepsis and septic shock. Improper wound care is a common cause of SSIs. People who are older, immunocompromised, smoke, or have uncontrolled diabetes or obesity are at greater risk.
How to Prevent Surgical Infections
1 SourceVerywell 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.Johns Hopkins Health.Surgical site infections.Additional ReadingKaiser Permanente.Incision care after surgery.
1 Source
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.Johns Hopkins Health.Surgical site infections.Additional ReadingKaiser Permanente.Incision care after surgery.
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.
Johns Hopkins Health.Surgical site infections.
Kaiser Permanente.Incision care after surgery.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
