PREVALENCE OF SURGICAL SITE INFECTION ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF VEDANTA INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

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Introduction: Skin is generally colonised by a wide range of microorganisms that could cause infection. Surgical site infection (SSI) requires evidence of clinical signs and symptoms of infection rather than microbiological evidence alone. SSIs generally affect the superficial tissues, but some more serious infections affect the deeper tissues or other parts of the body manipulated during the surgical procedure.About 5% of patients posted for surgery develop surgical site infections (SSIs), which may cause much morbidity and may sometimes mortality. Treatment of SSIs imposes a substantial financial burden on the health care system. Patients who develop SSI are more likely to spend 60% more time in an Intensive care unit (ICU), they are 5 times as likely to be readmitted and their mortality rate is twice of non-infected patient. But to great surprise 40-60% of these infections are preventable.
 Material and Methods: A total of 500 patients who had undergone surgical procedure at the teaching hospitalwere studied prospectively. A total of 464(92.8%) elective surgical patients and 36(7.2%) emergency surgical patients were included in the study.Patient information gathered from the data chart, treatment chart and from ward rounds in the hospital. All patients were followed up from the time of admission until the time of discharge and 30 days postoperatively to inspect the incidence of SSI. Wound infection was diagnosed. SSI diagnosed was divided into three categories: Superficial incision SSI, Deep incision SSI and Organ/space SSI. SSI is considered if an infection occurred within 30 days after the operation, if no implant is left in place SSI was considered.
 Results: In the present study 500 patients were included of which 464(92.8%) were elective surgical patients and 36(7.2%) were emergency surgical patients. Total SSI cases were 41 (8.2%) of which 29 (70.7%) were identified in elective surgery cases and 12 (29.3%) were observed in emergency surgery superficial incision SSI was most prevalent 25 (61%) followed by deep incisional SSI 11(26.8%) and then by organ/space SSI 5(12.2%).Mean age in elective surgery group was 52.4±7.48 and in emergency surgery group was 56.2± 6.78. In elective surgery group there were 296 (63.8%) male and 168 (36.2%) female. In emergency group there were 29 (80.6%) male and 7 (19.4%) female. Prophylactic antibiotics were given to 404 (87.1%) in elective surgery group and 30 (83.3%) in emergency surgery group. SSI rate observed in elective surgery group was 29/464 (6.25%) while in emergency surgery group was 12/36 (33.33%).BMI (Body mass index) in elective surgery group was 28.7 ±2.45and in emergency surgery group was 27.6 ± 2.89.
 Conclusion: higher incidence of SSI with increasing age of the patient.it was observed that to prevent SSI prophylactic antibiotics should be initiated within one hour before surgical incision.
 Keywords: SSI, Surgery, Superficial incision SSI, Deep incision SSI, Organ/space SSI