Surgical site infection classification
SSIs are classified into incisional SSIs, which can be superficial or deep, and organ/space SSIs, which affect the rest of the body other than the body wall layers.
These classifications are defined as follows:
Superficial incisional SSI - Infection involves only skin and subcutaneous tissue of incision
Deep incisional SSI - Infection involves deep tissues, such as fascial and muscle layers; this also includes infection involving both superficial and deep incision sites and organ/space SSI draining through incision.
Organ/space SSI - Infection involves any part of the anatomy in organs and spaces other than the incision, which was opened or manipulated during operation.
see Laminectomy wound infection
see Superficial wound infection