Surgical site infections (SSI) are a source of patient morbidity and increased cost. In 2007, our organization discovered an SSI rate of 18% after colorectal surgery (CRS), corresponding to an ACS NSQIP benchmarked high outlier.

From 2007 to 2016, surgeons championed a stepwise, multidisciplinary improvement pathway for SSI reduction. NSQIP was used to track SSI rates and estimate cost savings.

From 2007 to 2016, 1508 patients underwent CRS at our facility. In 2007, our SSI rate was 18%. In 2016, the SSI rate was 7%, corresponding to a NSQIP benchmarked exemplary performance. 54 patients avoided the morbidity of a SSI. The expense of SSI reduction implementation was $180,000. Cost savings was estimated at $1.3 million.

Our approach reduced SSI rates by 58% over ten years. We observed a significant morbidity reduction and cost savings. Our strategy could be adopted within other medical centers focused on CRS SSI improvement.

In 2007, our institution was identified as a high outlier for surgical site infections (SSI) in colorectal surgery (CRS) using the ACS NSQIP database. We utilized a surgeon-led, multidisciplinary approach to SSI reduction in CRS. Through continuous process improvement, we demonstrated a 58% reduction in CRS SSI rates over a ten-year period, resulting in significant morbidity reduction and cost savings. Our CRS SSI reduction strategy could be utilized by other medical centers interested in SSI improvement.