Fluorescence imaging in surgical wound management: A consensus-based approach

The rapid evolution of imaging technologies has transformed our approach to managing surgical wounds. Among these innovations, fluorescence imaging stands out as a tool with profound implications for clinical practice, patient outcomes, and healthcare systems at large. The integration of point-of-care fluorescence imaging can reshape clinical workflows by providing objective, real-time insight into bacterial burden. This manuscript represents a consensus-driven, multidisciplinary effort to capture the clinical utility, procedural integration, and emerging standards surrounding the use of fluorescence imaging throughout the surgical care continuum. From pre-operative assessment to intra-operative precision and post-operative surveillance, the chapters that follow illustrate how this technology is helping to close the diagnostic gap that has historically hindered timely and appropriate interventions for bacterial burden. In an era marked by increasing antimicrobial resistance, patient complexity, and medicolegal scrutiny, the ability to visualize pathogenic threats before they manifest as clinical complications is no longer a luxury but a necessity. It is my hope that this manuscript will serve as both a guide and a catalyst for further adoption, investigation, and refinement of fluorescence imaging in surgical practice. The evidence and opinions expressed here are compelling. Fluorescence imaging has the potential to improve outcomes in surgical patients across the globe.