Ling ML, Apisarnthanarak A, Abbas A, Morikane K, Lee KY, Warrier A, Yamada K, et al.
Antimicrobial resistance and infection control. Date of publication 2019 Nov 12;volume 8():174.
1. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2019 Nov 12;8:174. doi:
10.1186/s13756-019-0638-8. eCollection 2019.
APSIC guidelines for the prevention of surgical site infections.
Ling ML(1), Apisarnthanarak A(2), Abbas A(3), Morikane K(4), Lee KY(5), Warrier
A(6), Yamada K(7).
Author information:
(1)1Infection Prevention & Epidemiology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore,
169608 Singapore.
(2)2Infectious Diseases, Division of Infectious Diseases, Thammasat University
Hospital, Khlong Nueng, Thailand.
(3)3Orthopaedic Surgery, National Orthopaedic Centre of Excellence for Research
and Learning (NOCERAL), Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpor,
Malaysia.
(4)4Division of Clinical Laboratory and Infection Control Yamagata University
Hospital, Yamagata, Japan.
(5)5Surgery, Medical College, Kyung Hee University Center, Gangdong-gu, South
Korea.
(6)6Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Aster Medcity, Kochi, India.
(7)Orthopaedic Surgery, Kanto Rosai Hospital, Kawasaki, Japan.
Background: The Asia Pacific Society of Infection Control (APSIC) launched the
APSIC Guidelines for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infections in 2018. This
document describes the guidelines and recommendations for the setting prevention
of surgical site infections (SSIs). It aims to highlight practical
recommendations in a concise format designed to assist healthcare facilities at
Asia Pacific region in achieving high standards in preoperative, perioperative
and postoperative practices.
Method: The guidelines were developed by an appointed workgroup comprising
experts in the Asia Pacific region, following reviews of previously published
guidelines and recommendations relevant to each section.
Results: It recommends that healthcare facilities review specific risk factors
and develop effective prevention strategies, which would be cost effective at
local levels. Gaps identified are best closed using a quality improvement
process. Surveillance of SSIs is recommended using accepted international
methodology. The timely feedback of the data analysed would help in the
monitoring of effective implementation of interventions.
Conclusions: Healthcare facilities should aim for excellence in safe surgery
practices. The implementation of evidence-based practices using a quality
improvement process helps towards achieving effective and sustainable results.
© The Author(s). 2019.
DOI: 10.1186/s13756-019-0638-8
PMCID: PMC6852795
PMID: 31749962 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
Conflict of interest statement: Competing interestsThe authors declare that they
have no competing interests.
