2. Goal
- To increase positive surgical outcomes for
patients by decreasing perioperative
complications from misidentified risk factors
for infection and sepsis
3. Importance
Predictor of postsurgical site infection
Risk adjusted data will impact healthcare statistics and grades
Drives quality improvement initiatives
4. Risk of Post-Operative Infection
• Class I (Clean): 2%
• Class II (Clean Contaminated): 5-15%
• Class III (Contaminated): >15%
• Class IV (Dirty): >30%
5. Wound Classification
Predicts risk of postoperative
infection based on assessment of
bacterial load at time of surgery
Assists surgeon determine his/her
approach to postop care
6. Class I: Clean
Respiratory, gastrointestinal, genital and urinary tracts not entered
No break in aseptic technique
No inflammation
7. Class I: Examples
Breast surgery
C-section with non-ruptured membranes
Exploratory lap with no bowel resection
Eye Surgery (unless inflamed, infected, or
with foreign body)
Hernia repair
Total joint arthroplasty
8. Class II: Clean-Contaminated
Respiratory, gastrointestinal, genital, or urinary
tract is entered under controlled conditions
No major break in aseptic technique
No acute inflammation
No spillage
10. Class III: Contaminated
Acute, nonpurulent inflammation encountered
Open, fresh, accidental wounds
Operations with major breaks in sterile technique
Visible spillage from intestinal tract
Necrotic tissue without evidence of purulent
drainage
11. Class III: Examples
Appendectomy (no rupture, no pus)
Bowel resection for infarcted and/or
necrotic bowel
Cholecystectomy with acute inflammation
or bile spillage
Compromised integrity of sterile field
12. Class IV: Dirty
Presence of frank pus or abscess
Perforated viscera
Fecal contamination
Traumatic wounds with retained devitalized tissue
Wet gangrene
13. Class IV: Examples
Amputation in the presence of infection
Laparotomy for intra-abdominal abscess
Incision & Drainage for infection / abscess
Ruptured appendicitis
Ruptured bowel with or without fecal
contamination
Ruptured gastric ulcer
14. When to document class
At the end of the surgical procedure; during surgical team debriefing
This ensures any events that occurred during the surgery that may
influence wound class are considered