Surgical Site Infections in Abdominal Surgeries: A retrospective Study from King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam

Dr. D. S Chakravarthy; Dr. B. Manjula

Volume : VIII, Issue : I, January - 2018

Surgical Site Infections in Abdominal Surgeries: A retrospective Study from King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam

Dr. D. S Chakravarthy, Dr. B. Manjula

Abstract :

Infections that occur in the wound created by an invasive surgical procedure are generally referred to as surgical site infections (SSIs). SSIs are one of the most important causes of healthcare – associated infections (HCAIs), second only to urinary tract infection (UTI) in incidence. SSI develops in at least 5 % of hospitalised patients undergoing an operative procedure in developed countries, raising the costs of healthcare both to the public and the healthcare delivery system. The present study was undertaken on 100 patients who developed SSI following either elective or emergency abdominal surgery in 867 patients, admitted to the IV surgical unit, King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam, over a period of 24 months, from august 2014 to august 2016. Incidence and types of SSI following various procedures, the risk factors for SSI, the causative organisms and their sensitivity patterns and the outcomes of treatment were studied. Surgical site infections are among the most common complications in surgically treated patients and account for serious consequences. 11.53 % of abdominal surgeries developed SSI. 7.05 % of elective and 19.42 % of emergency procedures were infected. Surgery for duodenal ulcer perforation was the most common abdominal procedure to develop SSI. Smoking, anaemia and blood transfusions were the most frequent risk factors. Majority of the cultures yielded E.coli, Klebsiella and Staphylococcus aureus species. Most were superficial incisional SSIs and resolved after drainage of pus, mostly by the removal of a stitch. Comparison with other similar studies from developing countries showed slightly better results in the present study.