Infections at the surgical site delays wound healing, prolongs hospitalization, increases morbidity and the overall costs. These issues are compounded when the postoperative infection is culture-negative. This article outlines the general principles of managing postoperative surgical site infections, with an emphasis on culture-negative infections. Practical issues, in the absence of positive culture are discussed, together with practice points to minimize the incidence of culture-negative surgical site infections.
Key words: Surgical site infections, Gram positive, Gram negative, Bacterial culture, Culture negative SSIs
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