ADVANCES IN SURGICAL SITE INFECTION PREVENTION: THE ROLE OF NURSING PROTOCOLS

Surgical Site Infections (SSIs) represent a significant global challenge, affecting millions of surgical patients each year. As one ofthe most common healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), SSIs not only increase patient morbidity and mortality but also imposesubstantial financial burdens on healthcare systems. This article provides a comprehensive review of advancements in SSIprevention, emphasizing the critical role of nursing protocols across preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care phases.Evidence-based strategies, challenges in implementation, and future directions are explored, alongside the pivotal role ofmultidisciplinary teams in addressing these infections. Through structured protocols, continuous training, and patient-centeredapproaches, nurses can effectively mitigate SSI risks and improve surgical outcomes.