Organ/space refers to any part of the body entered or manipulated at surgery except:
(1) skin and subcutaneous tissue
(2) muscle layers
(3) fascia
Criteria for organ/space surgical incisional (DSI) infection – all of the following:
(1) one of the following:
(1a) onset <= 30 days after the surgical procedure if no implant placed
(1b) onset <= 1 year after the surgical procedure if implant present
(2) involves organs or tissue deep to the fascia and muscle layers
(3) one or more of the following:
(3a) purulent drainage from a drain placed through a stab wound to drain an organ or space
(3b) diagnosis of an organ or space surgical site infection made by a physician
(3c) abscess or other sign of infection in organ or space seen at surgery
(3d) abscess or other sign of infection in organ or space seen by imaging studies or histopathologic exam
(3e) pathogenic organisms isolated from an aseptically collected culture of fluid or tissue from the organ or space
If the organ/space infection drains through the surgical incision then it is classified as a deep incisional SSI.
