A surgical site infection is an infection that occurs in the part of the body where the surgery took place. Most patients do not develop an infection. However, infections can develop in a small number of patients who have surgery.
Most surgical site infections can be treated with antibiotics. The antibiotic given to you depends on the germ causing the infection and whether you have any drug allergies.
At the surgery center:
After you go home:
Remember—it is perfectly OK and we encourage you to ask the members of your healthcare team if they have cleaned their hands!