CLINICOEPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF SURGICAL SITE INFECTION FOLLOWING EMERGENCY LAPAROTOMY IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Abstract

Abstract. Background and aim:Surgical site infections (SSIs) are defined as infections occurring up to 30 days after surgery (or up to one year after surgery in patients receiving implants) and affecting either the incision or deep tissue at the operation site.Multiple risk factors for SSI have been identified can be compiled within three major determinants of SSI: bacterial factors, local wound factors, and patient factors. This study aims to determine the incidence, associated risk factors and type of pathogen causing surgical site infection following Emergency Laparotomy in aTertiary Care Centre. Methods: This study was done on 250 patients undergoing emergency laparotomy in Department of Surgery at Dr.Susheela Tiwari Hospital from January 2021 to September 2022. A questionnaire was used to obtain biodata, comorbidities, operative procedure and operative duration, wound classification, ASA score and perioperative transfusion. A personal history was collected, including information on diet, alcoholism, and smoking, and any prior abdominal surgery. Culture and sensitivity testing was done on infected wounds. Results: SSI was clinically diagnosed in 141 patients giving an incidence rate of 56.4%. 100 (70.9%) were superficial SSI while 41 (29.1%) were deep SSI. Identifiable Risk factors beingclean-contaminated and dirty wound, male sex, increased age, smoking, diabetes mellitus, anemia, and duration of surgery > 2hrs. Most common organism isolated was Methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci. Conclusions:Our goal should be to lower the rate of SSI, and in order to do this, effective actions should be taken to monitor wound infection properly, identify its causesand study them routinely.