Surgical Site Infections; A Study of Incidence, Risk Factors and Causative Organisms in Emergency Abdominal Surgeries

Abstract

Surgical Site Infections (SSIs), previously called post-operative wound infections, result from bacterial contamination during or after a surgical procedure. The risk of infection is greater in all categories if surgery is performed as an emergency. Surgical site infection causes considerable morbidity, mortality and high cost to the health care system and is becoming increasingly important in medico-legal aspects. A few studies were conducted in our country on such an important topic. Further research is necessary to identify the important factors responsible for high infection rate following emergency abdominal operations in our country. In this study it had been tried to find out the common organisms responsible for surgical site infections following emergency abdominal operations. In addition, the sensitivity patterns of the microorganisms were ascertained. Further, factors responsible for infection were determined, that will be helpful to prevent infection in future during the similar types of surgery. General objective of the study was to determine the factors responsible for surgical site infections following emergency abdominal operations, which will be helpful in reducing the rate of surgical site infection. This descriptive, Retrospective case series study took place in the period from 1 March, 2019 to 1 September, 2019, on 252 patients. Surgical Site Infections were classified according to American Centre for Disease Control (CDC) criteria and identified by active bedside surveillance and post discharge follow-up.