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Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Events
Chapter 9: Surgical Site Infection (SSI) Event – January 2025 [PDF – 42 pages]
Supporting Chapters
Chapter 1: NHSN Overview – January 2025 [PDF – 6 pages]
Chapter 3: Patient Safety Monthly Reporting Plan – January 2025 [PDF – 2 pages]
Chapter 15: CDC Location Labels and Location Descriptions – January 2025 [PDF – 55 pages]
All Data Collection Forms are Print-only
SSI Event
Denominator Form
Custom Event Form
- HAI Custom Event form (57.115) [PDF – 180 KB]
- Customizable form [DOCX – 80 KB]
**Not to be used for CLABSI, CAUTI, SSI, PedVAE, VAE, pediatric VAP, or LabID events.**
To be used in conjunction with Chapter 17: CDC/NHSN Surveillance Definitions for Specific Types of Infections [PDF – 2 MB] in the NHSN Patient Safety Manual.
- Customizable form [DOCX – 80 KB]
Supporting Forms
2025 Operative Procedure Code Documents
The documents listed below should be used for procedures performed January 1, 2025 through December 2025.
Additional Guidance for use with NHSN Operative Procedure Codes
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- ICD-10-PCS & CPT Codes – Guidance for HPRO & KPRO Procedure Details – January 2025 [XLSX – 90 KB]
This guidance document may be used for completing the NHSN procedure details for HPRO – hip arthroplasty and/or KPRO – Knee arthroplasty operative procedures. - FUSN ICD-10-PCS Codes – Guidance for Spinal Level and Approach – August 2025 [XLSX – 40 KB]
This supplemental guidance may be used to complete the spinal level and approach fields in the Operative Procedure Details section for FUSN procedures. - ICD-10 CM Diabetes Diagnostic Codes – January 2025 [XLSX – 40 KB]
ICD-10-CM codes included in this spreadsheet are acceptable for use to answer “YES” to “Diabetes Mellitus” for completing the NHSN Operative Procedure Details. - ICD-10-CM/PCS Codes for ‘prior infection at hip or knee joint’ denominator form question – January 2025 [XLSX – 40 KB]
Use ICD-10-PCS/CM diagnosis or procedure codes included in this spreadsheet to determine if patient meets criteria for ‘prior infection at index joint’.
- ICD-10-PCS & CPT Codes – Guidance for HPRO & KPRO Procedure Details – January 2025 [XLSX – 90 KB]
Prior Years Operative Procedure Code Documents
The documents are available under the “Additional Resources” on the NHSN Data Validation page and should be used for procedures performed prior to the current year.
SSI Training
Educational Roadmap
CMS Requirements
HAI Checklists
Supporting Materials
- NHSN Terminology Browser
- Sample Procedure Import File [XLSX – 25 KB]
- How to Import Patient Safety Procedure Data, September 2024 [PDF – 400 KB] – Last Reviewed September 2024
- NHSN Patient Safety Component Alerts [PDF – 1 MB]
- Unusual Susceptibility Profiles Alert – January 2022 [PDF – 650 KB]
- Improving Risk-Adjusted Measures of Surgical Site Infection for NHSN
Analysis Resources
- Analysis Resources
- Analysis Quick Reference Guides
- PSC – Data Dictionary [XLS – 1 MB]
- How to Determine Procedures Excluded from the SSI SIR: Universal Exclusion Criteria – February 2017 [PDF – 400 KB]
- How to Determine Events Included in the SSI SIR – SSI Event Indicators – February 2017 [PDF – 400 KB]
- Troubleshooting Surgical Site Infection SIR under the 2015 Baseline [PDF – 150 KB]
- Troubleshooting Surgical Site Infection SIR under the Original Baseline [PDF – 150 KB]
- NHSN’s Guide to the SIR (2022 Baseline) [PDF – 901 KB] – A comprehensive guide to NHSN’s SIR, including risk factors used in the SIR calculations under the 2022 baseline.
- NHSN’s Guide to the SIR (2015 Baseline) [PDF – 50 pages] – A comprehensive guide to NHSN’s SIR, including risk factors used in the SIR calculations under the 2015 baseline.
Resources to Help Prevent HAIs
