In May 2019, the Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare were released under the auspices of the Australian Government, National Health and Medical Research Council and Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, as an evidence-based pathway for improving patient outcomes in acute care facilities. 1 As stated in the introduction, “The Guidelines provide a nationally accepted approach to infection prevention and control, focusing on core principles and priority areas for action. They provide a basis for healthcare workers and healthcare facilities to develop detailed protocols and processes for infection prevention and control specific to local settings.” Preventing the risk of surgical site infections An important component of the guidelines involves surgery and minimising the risks associated with these invasive procedures. As stated in the guidelines, the risk of surgery-related infection is increased under the following scenarios: “Endogenous contamination of the wound […]