1st line of defence against Surgical Site Infections

 Infection control is the cornerstone of preventing Surgical Site Infections (SSIs), particularly in developing countries where healthcare systems often operate with limited resources.

SSIs can significantly prolong hospital stays, increase healthcare costs, and lead to preventable morbidity and mortality.

In areas where access to advanced medical technologies and resources is restricted, basic infection control practices become even more crucial.

Simple, cost-effective measures such as hand hygiene, proper surgical hand preparation, sterile instruments, and appropriate wound care management can drastically reduce infection rates.

However, in many developing countries, the lack of adequate infrastructure, training, and consistent enforcement of protocols poses a major challenge.

Strengthening these systems through investment in education for healthcare workers, improving supply chains for sterilization and antiseptic materials, and fostering a culture of infection prevention can create a robust defence against SSIs.

Governments and international health organizations must prioritise infection control as an essential aspect of healthcare, not just to protect individual patients but to safeguard public health and minimize the economic burden on already strained healthcare systems.

Infection control is not just a practice; it’s a commitment to patient safety that can save lives, especially in resource-limited settings.–Contributed by Areeba Iqbal, a Superior University student of operation theatre technologist