Highlights
Travel Abroad for Elective Surgery
(Released September 3, 2004)

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has received reports of postsurgical infections in some travelers who chose to go abroad for surgery (1). Although postsurgical infections and adverse health outcomes can occur anywhere surgery is performed and health-care is administered, including facilities in the U.S., standards for licensing health-care professionals and accrediting health-care facilities in the U.S. are rigorously overseen by the government, professional, and accrediting organizations. The standards of medical care at some destinations may not meet the requirements in place in this country, potentially placing these traveler-patients at increased risk for adverse health outcomes, such as transmission of bloodborne pathogens (e.g., HIV, hepatitis B) or post-operative infections and other complications that may arise from invasive procedures. CDC advises anyone considering traveling outside the U.S. for surgery to discuss their plans with their local physician before traveling.

(1) CDC.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. Nontuberculous mycobacterial infections after cosmetic surgery--Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 2003-2004. 2004 Jun 18;53(23):509.