MISSION & HISTORY
OUR MISSION
The World Surgical Infection Society is bridging the gaps between safe surgery and infection prevention and control programs, with a focus on surgical infection reduction and safety where the need is greatest.
OUR HISTORY
WSIS was founded in response to a gap in surgical outcomes between patients in high-income and LMICs. Although surgical infections remain a public health issue in high-income countries, particularly due to recent concerns around the rise of antimicrobial resistant organisms, low rates in developed, resource-rich countries such as the United States of America indicate that such infections are largely preventable.
WSIS was a key collaborating organization with the World Health Organization (WHO) in the development of the Global Guidelines for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection, the first evidence-based guidelines in this field published in 2018. Since then, WSIS has been part of the WHO Global IPC Network (GIPCN), with representation at each of these meetings.
WSIS members have presented at a range of international conferences since the society’s inception, to raise the profile of and educate on SSI prevention recommendations along with our organization’s vision and goal.
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A key achievement of WSIS has been the launch of an unique, open-access journal: the World Journal of Surgical Infection (WJSI).WSIS members themselves have also published on aspects of implementation as well as country projects including:
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Implementing Surgical Site Infection Surveillance in the Context of WHO's Implementation Cycle - The Perspective of one London Teaching Hospital" (Access article here)
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Antibiotic usage within cesarean section procedures in resourced-limited Kenya: A study of 23 facilities (Access article here)
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Adapting infection prevention and control assessment tools for use in low- and middle-income countries (Access article here)
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Medical officers as the key stakeholders in district level hospitals in Kenya (Access article here)
OUR FOUNDER
Dr. Joseph Solomkin, MD, FACS, FIDSA, was the founder and executive director of OASIS Global, a non-profit organization working to lower the incidence of post-surgical infections in low- and middle- income countries. While chairman of OASIS Global, Dr. Solomkin was the chair of the Guidelines Development Group for the World Health Organization’s Global Guidelines for the Prevention of Surgical Site Infection. After success and further research at Oasis Global, he founded the World Surgical Infection Society and merged the two organizations under the new flagship name. He expanded the work of the Society from academic to implementation, conducting and managing on-the-ground research in sub-Saharan countries on surgery and infection prevention and control.
Dr. Solomkin received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University, medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and residency at the University of Minnesota. He served in the United States Army, receiving two Bronze Stars for his service. He joined the Department of Surgery at the University of Cincinnati as a general surgeon, sub-specializing in burns and trauma. Dr. Solomkin then became a professor of emeritus in surgery at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. He has co-authored over 130 articles, 30 book chapters including co-authoring the medical textbook Clinician’s Manual on Intra-abdominal infections.
We are thankful to Joseph Solomkin for all his hard work and contribution to the fields of global health, surgery, and infection prevention control. Without his commitment and leadership, the World Surgical Infection Society would not exist and be making strong headway towards achieving its vision in bridging the gaps between safe surgery and infection prevention and control programs, with a focus on surgical infection reduction safety where the need is greatest. Joe’s ability to engage and bring people on this journey is demonstrated through the current board positions and many connections that remain at global, national and local level.
