Burden and associated risk factors for surgical site infections in General Surgery Department of Ndola Teaching Hospital (NTH) from January to December 2021: A Hospital-based retrospective study

Abstract

Background: Surgical Site Infections are the second most common type of health care-associated infection. Prior to this study, no research of this kind had been done at Ndola Teaching Hospital in Ndola, Zambia, to determine the prevalence of SSI after general surgery. This study therefore aimed at determining the burden and associated risk factors for surgical site infections in General Surgery Department of Ndola Teaching Hospital. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based retrospective descriptive study conducted Ndola Teaching Hospital general surgery dept. Selected and operated patients’ hospital records were reviewed. Pearson Chi-square test and Odds ratio were used to test for each risk factor’s association with SSI followed by their 95% confidence interval. Only p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The burden of surgical site infections was 18% [OR=0.394; 95%CI = (0.179-0.867)]. Factors that showed a significant association with the burden were gender [OR=3.394; 95%CI= (1.179-8.867), p=0.014], post-operative duration of hospital stay [OR=20.308; 95%CI= (3.364-27.798), p=0.00], emergency surgeries [OR=3.445; 95%CI = (1.625-7.304), p= 0.001] and intra-operative duration [OR=12.476; 95%CI= (4.104-37.925), p= 0.000]. However, there was no association observed between the qualification of the surgeon and the development of the infection. Conclusion: Surgical site infections were high and associated with the duration of hospital stay, intra-op duration of the procedure, the type of surgery and gender. It remains imperative to find possible interventions to reduce the risk of suffering from surgical site infections among patients who go to theatre.