This document provides updated strategies to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs) in acute care hospitals, emphasizing practical recommendations for implementation and prioritization. It highlights the high prevalence and cost of SSIs, which affect 2%–5% of patients undergoing inpatient surgery and account for 20% of all healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The document outlines surveillance definitions and methods, including direct and indirect methods, and emphasizes the importance of postdischarge surveillance. It reviews existing guidelines and requirements from various organizations, such as the CDC, NICE, and the Joint Commission, and discusses infrastructure requirements for effective SSI prevention. The document categorizes recommendations into basic practices for all acute care hospitals and special approaches for specific settings or populations. Basic practices include administering antimicrobial prophylaxis, controlling blood glucose, maintaining normothermia, and using alcohol-containing skin preparatory agents. Special approaches involve screening for and decolonizing patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), performing antiseptic wound lavage, and conducting SSI risk assessments. The document also addresses unresolved issues and performance measures for internal reporting.This document provides updated strategies to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs) in acute care hospitals, emphasizing practical recommendations for implementation and prioritization. It highlights the high prevalence and cost of SSIs, which affect 2%–5% of patients undergoing inpatient surgery and account for 20% of all healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The document outlines surveillance definitions and methods, including direct and indirect methods, and emphasizes the importance of postdischarge surveillance. It reviews existing guidelines and requirements from various organizations, such as the CDC, NICE, and the Joint Commission, and discusses infrastructure requirements for effective SSI prevention. The document categorizes recommendations into basic practices for all acute care hospitals and special approaches for specific settings or populations. Basic practices include administering antimicrobial prophylaxis, controlling blood glucose, maintaining normothermia, and using alcohol-containing skin preparatory agents. Special approaches involve screening for and decolonizing patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), performing antiseptic wound lavage, and conducting SSI risk assessments. The document also addresses unresolved issues and performance measures for internal reporting.