Prevention of Surgical Site Infections

Fewer SSIs start with smarter perioperative choices. In this evidence-based update for hospitalists, identify key patient and procedural risks, optimize antimicrobial prophylaxis with precise selection, dosing, and timing, and implement high-yield measures—skin prep, thermal management, glucose control, hair removal, and smoking cessation. You’ll decolonize targeted Staphylococcus aureus carriers and evaluate postoperative fever to drive source control and tailored therapy.

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Availability

On-Demand

Expires on Apr 21, 2027

Cost

Member: $0.00

Non-Member: $95.00

Credit Offered

2 CME Credits

2 ABIM-MOC Points

2 Participation Credits

Overview
Faculty
Accreditation
Recommended

Learning Objectives
After completing this activity, learners should be able to:

Identify risk factors for the development of surgical site infections (SSIs).
Discuss the basic principles of antimicrobial prophylaxis for SSI, including drug selection, dosing and timing of administration.
Describe nonantibiotic interventions designed to reduce a patient’s risk of developing SSIs, including reduction of hyperglycemia, skin antisepsis and appropriate hair removal practices.
Explore preoperative decolonization of Staphylococcus aureus as a strategy for SSI prevention.
Develop an approach to the assessment and treatment of postoperative fever and SSI.

If you are a Program Director and would like to grant access to your trainees, please reach out to education@hospitalmedicine.org for an academic access code.

Faculty

J. Njeri Wainaina, MD, FACP
Kurt Pfeifer, MD, FACP, SFHM, DFPM
Leonard Feldman, MD, FACP, FAAP, MHM

Faculty Disclosures
The individuals in control of content for this activity have no relevant relationships with ACCME-defined ineligible companies to disclose unless listed here. Any relevant relationships were mitigated prior to the start of this activity.

Accreditation Statement
The Society of Hospital Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CME Credit Statement
The Society of Hospital Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 2.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)^TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

MOC Credit Statement
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 2.00 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

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