A 45-year-old woman develops a wound infection 5 days after modified radical mastectomy. The organism most commonly responsible for post-mastectomy surgical site infection is:
- A Staphylococcus aureus ✓
- B Escherichia coli
- C Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- D Streptococcus pyogenes
Correct answer: A. Staphylococcus aureus
Explanation
Staphylococcus aureus is the most common organism causing surgical site infections after breast surgery, including mastectomy. Gram-negative organisms like E. coli and Pseudomonas are less common in clean-contaminated breast procedures. S. pyogenes is more associated with cellulitis than postoperative wound infections.
Reference: Sabiston Textbook of Surgery, 21st ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.