Surgical Site Infection Prevention Following Spine Surgery

Overview

Journal Global Spine J

Publisher Sage Publications

Date 2020 Jan 15

PMID 31934527

Citations 23

Authors

Ilyas S Aleem

Lee A Tan

Ahmad Nassr

K Daniel Riew

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Study Design: Literature review.

Objectives: Surgical site infection (SSI) following spine surgery leads to significant patient morbidity, mortality, and increased health care costs. The purpose of this article is to identify risk factors and strategies to prevent SSIs following spine surgery, with particular focus on avoiding infections in posterior cervical surgery.

Methods: We performed a literature review and synthesis to identify methods that can be used to prevent the development of SSI following spine surgery. Specific pearls for preventing infection in posterior cervical spine surgery are also presented.

Results: SSI prevention can be divided into patient and surgeon factors. Preoperative patient factors include smoking cessation, tight glycemic control, weight loss, and nutrition optimization. Surgeon factors include screening and treatment for pathologic microorganisms, skin preparation using chlorhexidine and alcohol, antimicrobial prophylaxis, hand hygiene, meticulous surgical technique, frequent irrigation, intrawound vancomycin powder, meticulous multilayered closure, and use of closed suction drains.

Conclusion: Prevention of SSI following spine surgery is multifactorial and begins with careful patient selection, preoperative optimization, and meticulous attention to numerous surgical factors. With careful attention to various patient and surgeon factors, it is possible to significantly reduce SSI rates following spine surgery.

Citing Articles

Prevention and Management of Posterior Wound Complications Following Oncologic Spine Surgery: Narrative Review of Available Evidence and Proposed Clinical Decision-Making Algorithm.

Leary O, Setty A, Gong J, Ali R, Fridley J, Fisher C Global Spine J. 2025; 15(1_suppl):143S-156S.

PMID: 39801119 PMC: 11726526. DOI: 10.1177/21925682241237486.

The utility of surgical drains in adult and pediatric posterior spinal fusion: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Pivazyan G, Winters C, Bryant J, Khan Z, Cobourn K, Skaggs D Neurosurg Rev. 2024; 47(1):873.

PMID: 39586884 DOI: 10.1007/s10143-024-03120-6.

Challenges in Contemporary Spine Surgery: A Comprehensive Review of Surgical, Technological, and Patient-Specific Issues.

Mensah E, Chalif J, Baker J, Chalif E, Biundo J, Groff M J Clin Med. 2024; 13(18).

PMID: 39336947 PMC: 11432351. DOI: 10.3390/jcm13185460.

Prediction models for risk assessment of surgical site infection after spinal surgery: A systematic review.

Lauinger A, Blake S, Fullenkamp A, Polites G, Grauer J, Arnold P N Am Spine Soc J. 2024; 19:100518.

PMID: 39253699 PMC: 11382011. DOI: 10.1016/j.xnsj.2024.100518.

Comparison of the short-term efficacy of MIS-TLIF and Endo-LIF for the treatment of two-segment lumbar degenerative disease.

Zhuo C, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Zhang R, Wang L, Yang D BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2024; 25(1):708.

PMID: 39232720 PMC: 11373331. DOI: 10.1186/s12891-024-07815-1.

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