Of more than 300 million surgical procedures performed worldwide annually,[1] almost 10% develop surgical site infections (SSIs).[2] SSIs account for a substantial clinical and economic burden.[3] Although many factors contribute to SSIs, preventive measures before, during, and after surgery can lower the SSI incidence.[4] Causes of SSIs vary depending on anatomy, surgical procedure, and exogenous in addition to endogenous, patient-derived factors. Bacterial contamination is one cause that can be controlled.[4, 5] In hospitals, preventive measures such as hygiene routines are implemented but even under sterile surgical conditions, infections may occur due to the spread of bacteria from the patient's own bacterial flora.[6] It has also been reported that up to 60% of the bacteria recovered from infected surgical wounds developed antibiotic resistance.[7]
ReadThere is a clinical need for conceptually new treatments that target the excessive activation of inflammatory pathways during systemic infection.
ReadSurgical site infections (SSI) are a clinical and economic burden. Suture-associated SSI may develop when bacteria colonize the suture surface and form biofilms that are resistant to antibiotics.
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