American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) Criteria for Grading a Surgical Site Infection (SSI)

The American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) reported criteria for the grading of a Surgical Site Infection (SSI).

Patient selection: surgical site infection with objective evidence of infection

Parameters:

(1) location of the infection

(2) clinical findings

Parameter	Finding	Grade
limited to skin at incision site only	erythema and swelling without wound separation	I
involvement of subcutaneous tissue	phlegmon or abscess in subcutaneous tissue	II
involvement of fascia and/or muscle layer	phlegmon or abscess in muscle or fascia	III
involvement of body cavity or tissue involved by the surgery	phlegmon or abscess deep to muscle or fascia at the operative site OR fascial wound dehiscence	IV
involvement of a site not involved by the surgery	phlegmon or abscess away from the operative site	V

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