Background
infection, SSI, surgical-site infections
INFECTION, DISEASE, HBP
The U.S. Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines surgical-site infections (SSIs) as an infection that occurs in the surgical wound within 30 days after surgery [According to the National Healthcare Safety Network of the CDC, and data reported in recent series, superficial incisional SSI (si-SSI) rates after elective hepatobiliary and pancreatic (HBP) procedures range from 8.0% to 15.5% [Numerous clinical interventions with varying levels of supporting evidence have been implemented to reduce si-SSI after elective abdominal surgery, including HBP surgery. A strategy to reduce the risk of SSI is the implementation of preventive care bundles. The concept of care bundle for prevention of SSIs was adopted from evidence documenting that structured approach to performing 3–5 evidence-based collective interventions could lead to an improved patient outcome regarding SSIs [Several studies have compared outcomes of subcuticular suture and skin staples for the prevention of si-SSI in different surgical scenarios. Various randomized clinical trials have reported a significantly lower incidence of si-SSI after subcuticular suture skin closure in clean surgery (i.e., caesarean delivery [The aim of this randomized clinical trial was to assess whether subcuticular suture skin closure in contrast to regular staples, reduces si-SSI rate in patients undergoing elective HBP surgery under conditions commonly encountered in general surgical practice.