American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Certification Practice Exam

What is a common clinical feature of a superficial incisional surgical site infection?

1. Systemic signs of infection

2. Infectious fever

3. Inflammatory changes at the incision site

4. Extensive drainage

The correct answer is: Inflammatory changes at the incision site

A common clinical feature of a superficial incisional surgical site infection is the presence of inflammatory changes at the incision site. These changes typically manifest as redness, swelling, warmth, and tenderness around the area where the surgery was performed. This localized response is due to the body's attempt to combat the infection, and it is often the first observable sign that prompts further evaluation or intervention. In contrast, systemic signs of infection and infectious fever generally indicate a more severe or deep infection that has spread beyond the local site. While drainage can occur with superficial infections, extensive drainage could suggest that the infection is more complicated or involves deeper tissue layers rather than being characteristic of a straightforward superficial infection. Therefore, the presence of localized inflammatory symptoms is the defining feature that helps distinguish superficial incisional surgical site infections from other types.