Skip to main content

Table 3 Definitions of various infectious complications

From: Perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in the treatment of acute cholecystitis (PEANUTS II trial): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Complication

Definition

Superficial incisional

Localized signs such as redness, pain, heat, or swelling at the site of the incision or by the drainage of pus

Deep incisional

Presence of pus or an abscess, fever with tenderness of the wound, or separation of the edges of the incision exposing the deeper tissues

Organ or space infection

Fever and/or elevated CRP/WBC count and intra-abdominal fluid collection visualized by CT imaging or ultrasound

Pneumonia

Coughing or dyspnea, radiography with infiltrative abnormalities, or elevated infection parameters in combination with positive sputum culture

Urinary tract infection

Dysuria, elevated WBC count, and/or presence of nitrate in urine sediment in combination with a positive urine culture

Bacteremia

Presence of at least one positive hemoccult test result for the same pathogen

  1. Abbreviations: CRP C-reactive protein, CT Computed tomographic, WBC White blood cell