Surgical site infections are caused by bacteria that get in through incisions made during surgery. They threaten the lives of millions of patients each year and contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance. In low- and middle-income countries, 11% of patients who undergo surgery are infected in the process. In Africa, up to 20% of women who have a caesarean section contract a wound infection, compromising their own health and their ability to care for their babies. But surgical site infections are not just a problem for poor countries. In the United States, they contribute to patients spending more than 400 000 extra days in hospital at a cost of an additional US $10 billion per year. No international evidence-based guidelines had previously been available before WHO launched its global guidelines on the prevention of surgical site infection on 3 November 2016, and there are inconsistencies in the interpretation of evidence and recommendations in existing national guidelines. These new WHO guidelines are valid for any country and suitable to local adaptations, and take account of the strength of available scientific evidence, the cost and resource implications, and patient values and preferences.

This volume offers extensive information on preventive and infection surveillance procedures, routines and policies adapted to the optimal infection control level needed to tackle today’s microbes in hospital practice. It especially focuses on preventive measures for serious hospital infections. Each chapter includes a practical section that addresses the main aspects of procedures and treatment, and a theoretical section that contains updated documentation that can be used for further study, or to help select infection control measures. Infection control concerns all healthcare professional working directly or indirectly with patients; in diagnosis, treatment, isolation measures, operations, equipment, drugs, cleaning, textiles, transport, porter service, food and water, building and maintenance, etc. Hygiene and environmental control is central to infection prevention for patients, visitors and staff alike. Good hygienic practices, individual infection control, well implemented and frequent environmental cleaning, and a high professional standard of hygiene in the treatment and care of patients, are essential to patient safety and a safe working environment. Addressing this essential topic, this book is intended for doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers, students in health-related subjects, hospital managers and health bureaucrats, as well as patients and their families.

A clear, hands-on outline of best practices for infection prevention that directly improve patient outcomes across the healthcare continuum.

Complications in Small Animal Surgery provides a complete reference to diagnosing, managing, and treating surgical complications, with information following a standardized format for ease of use. • Presents comprehensive information on diagnosing, managing, and preventing surgical complications using an accessible format • Offers a well-defined, thoroughly illustrated format to maximize practical value, with algorithms, tables, practical tips, and many images throughout • Covers common and uncommon complications in all body systems • Serves as a reference to recent literature relevant to each complication • Includes access to a companion website with videos, figures from the book available for download into PowerPoint, and linked references at www.wiley.com/go/griffon/complications

Complications in Equine Surgery is the first reference to focus exclusively on understanding, preventing, recognizing, managing, and prognosing, technical and post-procedural complications in equine surgery. Edited by two noted experts on the topic, the book presents evidence-based information using a clear approach, organized by body system. Featuring color images, the book contains detailed coverage of the gastrointestinal, respiratory, musculoskeletal, urogenital, and neurological systems. Each chapter contains a short introduction of the procedure with explanations of when and how the procedure is to be performed. All chapters review how to recognize and prevent technical complications and explain how to manage post-operative complications. This important text: Offers the first resource specifically focused on complications encountered in equine surgery Takes a helpful format organized by body system Provides consistently formatted chapters for ease of use Covers clinically relevant information for dealing with technical and post-operative complications Presents more than 350 color images to illustrate the concepts described Written for general practitioners and specialists, Complications in Equine Surgery is an essential resource to decreasing morbidity and mortality and increasing surgical success in horses.