Class I/Clean |
An uninfected operative wound in which no inflammation
is encountered and the respiratory, alimentary, genital, or uninfected
urinary tract is not entered. In addition, clean wounds are primarily
closed and, if necessary, drained with closed drainage. Operative
incisional wounds that follow nonpenetrating (blunt) trauma should be
included in this category if they meet the criteria. |
Class
II/Clean-Contaminated |
An operative wound in which the respiratory,
alimentary, genital, or urinary tracts are entered under controlled
conditions and without unusual contamination. Specifically, operations
involving the biliary tract, appendix, vagina, and oropharynx are
included in this category, provided no evidence of infection or major
break in technique is encountered. |
Class
III/Contaminated |
Open, fresh, accidental wounds. In addition, operations
with major breaks in sterile technique (eg, open cardiac massage) or
gross spillage from the gastrointestinal tract, and incisions in which
acute, nonpurulent inflammation is encountered are included in this
category. |
Class
IV/Dirty-Infected |
Old traumatic wounds with retained devitalized tissue
and those that involve existing clinical infection or perforated
viscera. This definition suggests that the organisms causing
postoperative infection were present in the operative field before the
operation. |