Postoperative infections most commonly arise from which sites?

• A. Meningitis
• B. Sinusitis
• C. Pneumonia, urinary tract infection, or wound infection
• D. Gastroenteritis

Answer: (C)

Postoperative infections most commonly arise from the lungs, the urinary tract, and the surgical wound. After surgery, factors like pain, anesthesia, and immobility impair coughing and clearance of secretions, increasing the risk of postoperative pneumonia. Urinary catheters, often used around the time of surgery, are a major source of bacteriuria and symptomatic UTIs. The incisional wound is a breach of the skin barrier, so skin flora can invade and cause wound infection. In contrast, meningitis, sinusitis, or gastroenteritis are less typical sources of postoperative infections.