A 2019 global review of post-operative mortality rates showed that at least 4.2 million people die within 30 days of surgery each year, and ~50% of deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. The number of post-operative deaths accounts for ~7.7% of all deaths globally, making it the third greatest contributor to deaths, after ischaemic heart disease and stroke.2
Apart from a high risk of mortality, SSIs are also associated with an increase in the length of hospital stays (10...