Foreword

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The history of surgical sepsis and the evolution of antiseptic techniques is a long one, represented by the highs of effective aseptic surgical technique, and the development of effective antimicrobial therapies for previously resistant diseases, such as penicillin for the treatment of pneumococcal pneumonia, and streptomycin for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis. There have also been lows, such as the occurrence of antibiotic resistant bacteria and the emergence of new infectious agents for which there is as yet no curative therapy, such as human immunodeficiency virus. In this issue of Current Problems in Surgery Drs. Hedrick, Smith, Gazoni, and Sawyer from the Department of Surgery at the University of Virginia have written an excellent monograph on “Appropriate Use of Antibiotics in Surgery: A Review of Surgical Infections”. This thorough monograph makes clear that advances in medicine, such as the use of immunosuppressants for organ transplantation, are often associated with complications, not the least of which is the development of surgical infections. This is an important and highly practical contribution, which will be useful to clinicians in all branches of medicine.