Prevention of infection in the orthopedic surgery patient.

A surgical site infection in an orthopedic surgery is a dreaded and often catastrophic complication. This article provides an overview of the incidence, pathogenesis, financial impact, as well as a discussion of patient and operation-related risk factors for orthopedic surgical site infections. The reader is provided insight into infection control interventions intended to minimize surgical site infections in orthopedic patients. Some of these practices are evidence-based and others exist only because of theoretical benefit.