This document provides updated strategies to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs) in acute care hospitals. It highlights practical recommendations for implementing and prioritizing SSI prevention efforts. The guidelines are sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and developed in collaboration with several other organizations. The document outlines the rationale for SSI prevention, including the prevalence and consequences of SSIs, and provides background on strategies for detecting and preventing SSIs. Section 1 discusses the rationale and concerns related to SSIs, including their prevalence, impact on healthcare outcomes, and costs. Section 2 covers strategies for detecting SSIs, including surveillance definitions and methods. Section 3 outlines strategies for preventing SSIs, including existing guidelines, recommendations, and requirements from various organizations. Section 4 provides recommended strategies for SSI prevention, categorized as basic practices and special approaches. Basic practices include administering antimicrobial prophylaxis according to evidence-based standards, controlling blood glucose for cardiac surgery patients, maintaining normothermia during the perioperative period, and using alcohol-containing preoperative skin preparatory agents. Special approaches include screening for S. aureus and decolonizing surgical patients, performing antiseptic wound lavage, and conducting SSI risk assessments. The document also addresses unresolved issues, such as the use of preoperative chlorhexidine bathing and the use of gentamicin-collagen sponges. It emphasizes the importance of surveillance, data collection, and feedback to improve SSI prevention efforts. The guidelines aim to help hospitals implement effective strategies to reduce the incidence and impact of SSIs.This document provides updated strategies to prevent surgical site infections (SSIs) in acute care hospitals. It highlights practical recommendations for implementing and prioritizing SSI prevention efforts. The guidelines are sponsored by the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and developed in collaboration with several other organizations. The document outlines the rationale for SSI prevention, including the prevalence and consequences of SSIs, and provides background on strategies for detecting and preventing SSIs. Section 1 discusses the rationale and concerns related to SSIs, including their prevalence, impact on healthcare outcomes, and costs. Section 2 covers strategies for detecting SSIs, including surveillance definitions and methods. Section 3 outlines strategies for preventing SSIs, including existing guidelines, recommendations, and requirements from various organizations. Section 4 provides recommended strategies for SSI prevention, categorized as basic practices and special approaches. Basic practices include administering antimicrobial prophylaxis according to evidence-based standards, controlling blood glucose for cardiac surgery patients, maintaining normothermia during the perioperative period, and using alcohol-containing preoperative skin preparatory agents. Special approaches include screening for S. aureus and decolonizing surgical patients, performing antiseptic wound lavage, and conducting SSI risk assessments. The document also addresses unresolved issues, such as the use of preoperative chlorhexidine bathing and the use of gentamicin-collagen sponges. It emphasizes the importance of surveillance, data collection, and feedback to improve SSI prevention efforts. The guidelines aim to help hospitals implement effective strategies to reduce the incidence and impact of SSIs.