Skip to main content

“SSI (surgical site infection) Intervention” module

Surgical site infections (SSIs) account for one quarter of hospital infections. Many of them could be avoided with simple practical measures. Swissnoso has developed a corresponding module.

The “SSI Intervention” module developed by Swissnoso tackles the issue at three levels: by improving the processes of preparing patients for surgery (hair removal, preoperative skin disinfection and antibiotic prophylaxis); by simplifying monitoring; and by automatically evaluating whether medical personnel have correctly implemented the preventive measures. The “Clean Care Monitor” app captures the observations made during the processes. “SSI Intervention” furthermore aims at improving the organisational structure for the prevention of surgical site infections in participating hospitals in order to clarify who is responsible for what.

The module is available to all hospitals

The three-year pilot phase was successfully concluded in 2018. We were pleased to note an increase in adherence to the measures in hospitals from 56% to 66%, even though the improvement was not yet statistically significant. The module aims at lowering surgical site infections by a minimum of 10% within two years. The programme has been available to all Swiss hospitals since October 2018.

Further information

Further topics

3 March 2025

NOSO in hospitals

Many measures under the NOSO Strategy are geared to improving the situation in hospitals – which are hardest hit by healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The spectrum ranges from national databases on guidelines to concrete interventions to prevent HAIs.

5 February 2025

About the NOSO Strategy

The NOSO Strategy aims to reduce the number of hospital and nursing home infections. It defines five priority areas, each with its own strategic objective and a bundle of key measures.

Federal Office of Public Health FOPH

Communicable Diseases Division
Infection Control and Control Measures Section
Schwarzenburgstrasse 157
Switzerland - 3003 Bern