Infectious complications related to surgical site infection: determinants and healthcare control measures

Abstract

Introduction: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are among the main infectious complications related to healthcare, being associated with increased morbidity and mortality, longer hospital stays, and higher healthcare costs. These infections can occur at different levels of depth and are related to multiple factors, including the patient’s clinical conditions, characteristics of the surgical procedure, and failures in prevention and control practices. In this context, the adoption of safe, evidence-based healthcare measures is essential to reduce the incidence of these complications.Objectives: To analyze the main determinants of infectious complications related to surgical site infections and to discuss healthcare control measures aimed at their prevention. Specifically, this study seeks to identify risk factors associated with SSIs, evaluate preventive strategies adopted in healthcare services, and analyze the importance of multidisciplinary team performance in reducing these events.Methodology: This is an integrative literature review aimed at gathering and analyzing scientific evidence on infectious complications related to surgical site infections. The search was conducted in the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (Medline) and the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS) databases. Controlled descriptors from MeSH and DeCS vocabularies were used, combined with Boolean operators. Articles published between 2020 and 2026, available in full text, in Portuguese and English, and addressing the proposed theme were included.Results and Discussion: The studies show that surgical site infections are associated with several risk factors, such as comorbidities (diabetes mellitus, obesity), prolonged surgical time, inadequate asepsis and antisepsis techniques, and inappropriate use of antibiotic prophylaxis. The most effective healthcare control measures include proper hand hygiene, adequate skin preparation, appropriate use of antimicrobials, maintenance of sterile technique during procedures, and continuous surveillance of infection indicators. Additionally, the importance of ongoing professional education and adherence to institutional protocols is highlighted for reducing the incidence of these infections. The integrated performance of the multidisciplinary team is essential to ensure patient safety and the quality of care provided.Conclusion: It is concluded that infectious complications related to surgical site infections are largely preventable events, provided that effective preventive measures are systematically implemented. The identification of risk factors and the adoption of safe healthcare practices, combined with continuous training of healthcare teams, are fundamental to reducing these infections and improving patient clinical outcomes.