chapter 1 Historical Evolution of Asepsis and Antisepsis -- chapter 2 Incidence and Epidemiology of Infection After External Abdominal Wall Herniorrhaphy / chapter 3 Classification of Mesh Infections After Abdominal Herniorrhaphy / chapter 4 Pathology of Infected Mesh / chapter 5 Prosthetic Materials and Their Interactions with Host Tissue / chapter 6 Processes Governing Bacterial Colonization of Biomaterials / chapter 7 Diagnosis of Postherniorrhaphy Infections / chapter 8 Infectious Complications Following Open Inguinal Herniorrhaphy / chapter 9 Diagnosis and Management of Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernioplasty Infections -- chapter 10 Treatment of Infections After Open Ventral Herniorrhaphy / chapter 11 Diagnosis and Treatment of Infections Related to Laparoscopic Incisional and Ventral Hernia Repair -- chapter 12 Absorbable Mesh in Closure of Infected Abdominal Wall Defects / chapter 13 Bacterial Colonization of Implanted Devices / chapter 14 Postherniorrhaphy Mesh Infections: Microbiology and Treatment with Antibiotics -- chapter 15 Utilization of Bioactive Prosthetic Materials for Hernia Repair in Infected Fields -- chapter 16 Percutaneous Bacteriological Testing Before Mesh Reinsertion After a Wound Infection -- chapter 17 Prevention