Correlation between Wound Dehescence after Major Urologic Surgery and MRSA Infection

Abstract

Purpose: Postoperative wound infection accounts for approximately 15% of all hospital infections. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are 14% of the domestic hospital infections and this is increasing in incidence over time. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the relationship between wound dehescence after urologic surgery and MRSA infection. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients (25 males and 5 females) who experienced wound dehescence after urologic surgery were subdivided into two separate groups; the MRSA group and non-MRSA group, and they were retrospectively analyzed via a chart review according to the age of the patients, the associated disease, the hepatic or renal functional status, the admission duration, the use of preoperative antibiotics and the number and duration of inserted catheters. Results: The mean age of the MRSA group and the non-MRSA group was 62.6±12.4 years and 59.3±19.9 years, respectively (p=0.235). The elapsed operative time in the MRSA group and non-MRSA group was 355.8±99.5 minutes and 305.8±90.2 minutes, respectively (p=0.021). Contrary to 35.2±23.6 days of catheter duration in the MRSA group, that of the non-MRSA group was 14.6±8.5 days (p=0.007). The tendency for MRSA infection was observed for an increased duration of drain placement, a decreased hepatic or renal function and the preoperative antibiotic use. The extent of admission was obviously longer for the MRSA group (39.6± 23.5 days) than for the non-MRSA group (28.9±9.9 days) (p=0.013). Conclusions: Wound dehescence assocated with MRSA infection is intimately related to the elapsed operative time and the period of catheterinsertion, which in turn increases the number of admission days. (Korean J Urol 2006;47:298-302) ꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏ