Surgical Infectious Disease

Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

2026

Identifier

DOI: 10.1016/B978-0-443-12431-0.00008-5

Abstract

Infection is a significant source of mortality and morbidity in children despite improvements in antimicrobial therapy, aseptic surgical techniques, and postoperative intensive care. Every procedure performed by a surgeon carries the risk of a surgical infection and efforts to reduce the rate and severity of infections are of prime importance. Two broad classes of infectious disease processes affect surgeons: those brought to the pediatric surgeon for treatment, and those that arise in the postoperative period as a complication. An understanding of the pathogenesis of the infectious process is important. The body's multiple defense mechanisms and appropriate use of antibiotics can mitigate against the infectious process. Antibiotics play an important role in preventing surgical infection. Surgical infections can be as simple as a superficial surgical site infection or more complicated as in a necrotizing soft tissue infection.

Journal Title

Holcomb and Ashcraft's Pediatric Surgery (Eighth Edition)

First Page

115

Last Page

125

Keywords

Antibiotics prophylaxis; CLABSI; Surgical site infection; Wound classification

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