Abstract
Abdominal surgical site infections (SSI) cause substantial morbidity and mortality for patients undergoing operative procedures. We determined the incidence of and risk factors for SSI after abdominal surgery in the Department of Abdominal Surgery at the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo (UCCK). Prospective surveillance of patients undergoing abdominal surgery was performed between December 2005 and June 2006. CDC definitions were followed to detect SSI and study forms were based on Europe Link for Infection Control through Surveillance (HELICS) protocol. A total of 253 surgical interventions in 225 patients were evaluated. The median age of patients was 42 years and 55.1% of them were male. The overall incidence rate of SSI was 12%. Follow-up was achieved for 84.1% of the procedures. For patients with an SSI, the median duration of hospitalization was 9 days compared with 4 days for those without an SSI (p2, use of antibiotic prophylaxis and NNIS class of >2 were all significant at p < .001. The SSI rates for the NNIS System risk classes 0, 1 and 2-3 were 4.2%, 46.7% and 100%, respectively. SSI caused considerable morbidity among surgical patients in UCCK. Appropriate active surveillance and infection control measures should be introduced during preoperative, intra-operative, and postoperative care to reduce infection rates.
Highlights
Nosocomial infections constitute a major public health problem worldwide
As in many developing countries, no surveillance or feedback of surgical site infections (SSI) rates have been implemented in Kosovo The observed incidence rate of SSI (12%) was higher than incidence rates reported from developed countries in Western Europe, such as the United Kingdom (3.1%) and the Netherlands (4.3%); [13,14,15]
The incidence rate of infections according to surgical procedures was higher than those reported from European countries in HELICS [8]
Summary
Nosocomial infections constitute a major public health problem worldwide. They result in high morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospital stays, greater use of antibiotics, and increased costs [1,2].Surgical-site infections (SSI) along with pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and bloodstream infections are the most common nosocomial infections [3]. Nosocomial infections constitute a major public health problem worldwide. They result in high morbidity and mortality, prolonged hospital stays, greater use of antibiotics, and increased costs [1,2]. Surgical-site infections (SSI) along with pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and bloodstream infections are the most common nosocomial infections [3]. SSIs are not associated with a high mortality rate, they are a significant source of morbidity among surgical patients. Abdominal surgical site infections (SSI) cause substantial morbidity and mortality for patients undergoing operative procedures. Conclusions: SSI caused considerable morbidity among surgical patients in UCCK. Appropriate active surveillance and infection control measures should be introduced during preoperative, intra-operative, and postoperative care to reduce infection rates.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
