Prevention of surgical site infections

Surgical site infections [SSI] are a common postoperative complication. This thesis investigates opportunities to prevent surgical SSI. In the first part we provide a literature review on the effect of care bundles for the prevention of SSI. We also performed a randomized controlled trial examining a care bundle consisting of wound irrigation, hyperoxygenation, normovolemia, normothermia and normoglycemia – the EPO2CH trial. In the second part we provide an extensive overview of literature of other preventive measures including [network-]meta-analysis on the effect of different manners of bowel preparation, skin antiseptics and redosing of antibiotic prophylaxis on SSI. Lastly we performed an individual participant data meta-analysis on the effect of triclosan coated sutures on abdominal wall dehiscence.