Surgical site infections (SSI) account for almost one-third of all hospital infections. They represent a major public health problem and financial burden for the health system. SSI are associated with treatment in an intensive care unit, longer post-operative hospital stays, additional surgical procedures, prolonged recovery, aesthetic and functional defects and often higher mortality. A significant impact on the incidence of complications have SSI pathogens themselves. These are often drug-resistant bacteria which are difficult to treat with standard dosage regimens. Surgical site infection occurs within 30 days after the operation if no implant is left in place or within 1 year if implant is in place, the infection appears to be related to the operation and the patient has typical signs or symptoms of inflammation or other evidence of infection is found on examination or with other diagnostic methods. Prevention of surgical site infections includes a series of measures related (directly or indirectly) with the preparation of the patient, medical staff and the environment for the surgical procedure and the patient’s postoperative recovery. Preoperative preventive measures require preoperative whole-body washing the night before or the morning of the procedure, administration of adequate antibiotic prophylaxis at the time and in a dosage determined by the type of surgery and the expected pathogens and optional decolonization of S. aureus carriers and hair removal. Intraoperative measures are very complex and depend on the structure of the medical institution where the surgery takes place. They include sterilization of surgical instruments and other medical equipment , personnel entering the operating tract , dressing in sterile clothing , surgical hand washing , specific conditions in the operating room involving ventilation , proper use of sterile gloves , preoperative preparation of the skin at the incision site including antiseptic agents, adequate oxygenation of the patient, preventing intraoperative hypothermia, maintaining normoglycemia and proper wound closure . Therapeutic concentrations of the drug should be maintained throughout the procedure as well as for several hours after the incision is closed. Antibiotic prophylaxis should be discontinued within the time specified in the guidelines. Other postoperative measures include glucose control and postoperative wound care. After discharge from the hospital the patient should see the primary care physician and the surgeon for a follow-up appointment.