Surgical Site Infections

A relatively common complication associated with surgery, surgical site infections (SSI) can lead to more surgeries and other complications if not dealt with effectively. At Texas Infectious Disease Institute in Richardson, Texas, Serge Lartchenko, MD, is a trusted leader in the latest treatments for SSIs. They offer the latest advancements in non-surgical treatments for orthopedic and surgical site infections. The practice also has an onsite infusion suite to treat infections post-surgery for their patient’s comfort and convenience. If you've undergone surgery and are now dealing with an SSI, don't delay. Call the office to schedule an appointment or book online today.

What causes surgical site infections?

In one word, germs are the culprit for surgical site infections (SSI). Germs can infect a surgical wound through physical contact, such as from the touch of a contaminated caregiver or surgical instrument, germs in the air, or germs on your body that come into contact with the wound.

Skin is a natural barrier against infection, but even with the many precautions and protocols surgeons take to prevent infection, any procedure that causes a break in the skin can lead to it. 

SSI occurs on the part of the body where the surgery took place. The chances of developing a surgical site infection post-surgery are small, but if you are someone who experiences SSIs, it’s essential to get proper treatment.

Are there different types of surgical site infections?

The most common types of infection-causing bacteria are Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Pseudomonas. The CDC classifies surgical site infections into three types:

Superficial incisional SSI

This type of infection occurs just in the area of the skin where the incision was made.

Deep incisional SSI

A deep incisional infection occurs beneath the incision area in muscle and tissue surrounding the muscles.

Organ or space SSI

This type of SSI is associated with nervous and muscle tissue adjacent to hardware (plates, screws, cages) used in prosthetic surgery. It can occur in any area of the body, including a body organ or even the space between organs.

SSI can occur after any surgery but are more common after joint replacement surgeries, orthopedic surgeries, and back, neck, and spine surgeries.

How are SSIs treated?

Texas Infectious Disease Institute’s onsite outpatient infusion center makes it easy for patients to receive the care and medication they need in one convenient, comfortable location.

Specialists can treat most surgical site infections with antibiotics, including intravenous treatments and antibiotic combination therapy. Depending on the severity, it may take days or weeks to clear up completely.

Orthopedic infections are among the most complex surgical site infections to treat and often require the attention of an infectious disease specialist. Dr. Latchenko has the training and experience to treat the most complicated cases.

The combination of expert diagnosis, intravenous treatments, and antibiotic combination therapy makes Texas Infectious Disease Institute a premier choice for treating complicated infections.

If you have undergone surgery and you’re dealing with surgical site infections in addition to recovery time, Texas Infectious Disease Institute can help. Call the office to schedule an appointment or book online today.