Surgical Site Infections in Spine Surgery: Preoperative Prevention Strategies to Minimize Risk

STUDY DESIGN: Literature review. OBJECTIVES: A review of the literature identifying preoperative risk factors for developing surgical site infections after spine surgery and discussion of the preventive strategies to minimize risks. METHODS: A review of the literature and synthesis of the data to provide an updated review on the preoperative management of surgical site infection. RESULTS: Preoperative prevention strategies of reducing surgical site infections in spine surgery remains a challenging problem. Careful mitigation of modifiable patient comorbidities, blood glucose control, smoking, obesity, and screening for pathologic microorganisms is paramount to reduce this risk. Individualized antibiotic regimens, skin preparation, and hand hygiene also play a critical role in surgical site infection prevention. CONCLUSIONS: This review of the literature discusses the preoperative preventive strategies and risk management techniques of surgical site infections in spine surgery. Significant decreases in surgical site infections after spine surgery have been noted over the past decade due to increased awareness and implementation of the prevention strategies described in this article. However, it is important to recognize that prevention of surgical site infection requires a system-wide approach that includes the hospital system, the surgeon, and the patient. Continued efforts should focus on system-wide implementation programs including careful patient selection, individualized antibiotic treatment algorithms, identification of pathologic organisms, and preoperative decolonization programs to further prevent surgical site infections and optimize patient outcomes.