“The wound classification system is an important predictor of postoperative outcomes. Recent studies have focused on elements such as preoperative risk factors and co-morbidities, operative time, prophylactic antibiotic use, and the American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) physical status score, along with wound classification to predict postoperative surgical outcomes”

“Our study demonstrates lower rates of SSIs within the contaminated and dirty wound classes than those historically reported. These findings are likely to be the result of a multifactorial approach to improving patient safety and outcomes that has evolved over the
past two decades. The current wound classification system continues to serve as a de facto standard to predict postoperative rates of infection, but with the growing complexity of our healthcare systems and patient population, adjustments to the classification system should
be made to improve its predictive capacity.”

Ortega, Gezzer et al. “An evaluation of surgical site infections by wound classification system using the ACS-NSQIP.” The Journal of surgical research vol. 174,1 (2012): 33-8. Full Text for Emory Users