1)      Surgical site infections (SSI) are among the most common hospital-acquired infections in patients undergoing Emergency Abdominal exploratory surgeries for Bowel perforations, obstructions, etc.

2)      In recent years SSIs are accounting for 36.4% of infections reported to the Centers for Disease Control.¹ Consistent with the NHSN, abdominal surgeries are the foremost common reason for SSIs accounting for nearly 50%.²

3)      SSI manifests as induration and redness of the incision site to discharge from the wound which could be of any nature from serous discharge to frank pus. This can lead to problems ranging from superficial wound gape to complete dehiscence of the abdominal wall at the site of wound closure. Depending on the grade of wound infection, it can lead to a considerable financial strain on the health care facilities as well as on the patient owing to their prolonged hospital stay, secondary dressing cost, readmission, loss of employment & disability.³

4)      A retrospective review of hospital records by Wick et al. documented 30- and 90-day readmission rates for SSIs after CRS of 11.4 and 23.3% respectively, with a median cost per event of $8885 USD.⁴

5)      A perioperative mortality rate for SSI of 3 percent has been reported, with 75 percent of associated deaths directly attributable to the SSI,⁵ its estimated that 60% of those outcomes may be prevented with the increased use of evidence-based measures.⁶

6)      Studies show that the implementation of a five-part bundle consisting of antibiotic prophylaxis, hair removal before surgery, perioperative normothermia, perioperative euglycemia, and operating room discipline has decreased the incidence of SSI from 22% to 11%.⁷

7)      Following all additives of the Bundle is challenging to comply with in an Emergency setting, subsequently raising the question of whether or not an alternate of change of gloves before skin closure, being a far more feasible factor to comply with, can lower the incidence of SSI and improve patients outcome.