Abstract
The present report describes the results obtained in an epidemiological study of surgical wound infections through a continuous and active epidemiological surveillance program lasting one year and which covered all the Surgical Services of the University Clinical Hospital.
The number of infections studied was 217, with an overall infection rate of 3%. The majority of the infections (46.5%) were detected in the General Surgery Service. Regarding the infection rate by Services, the highest corresponded to the Urology Service, with a rate of 10%.
In 26% of the cases, other hospital-acquired infections occurred in patients who underwent a surgical operation.
The microorganisms responsible for the infections observed were mainly Gramnegative (67%), and within these the most commonly isolated were E. coli and Proteus spp..
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Altemeier W.A., Burke J.F., Pruitt B.A., Sandosky W.R. (1976): Manual on control of infection in surgical patients. -J.S. Lippincott, Philadelphia.
Altemeier W.A. (1979): Surgical infections: incisional wound. In: J.V. Bennett and P.S. Brachman (eds.). Hospital Infections. Little Brown. Boston pp. 287–306.
Burns S.J., Dippe S.E. (1982): Postoperative wound infections detected during hospitalization and after discharge in a community hospital. -Am. J. Infect. Control, 10: 60–65.
Center for Disease Control (1972): Outline for surveillance and control of nosocomial infections. Atlanta U.S. Department of Health Education and Welfare, Public Health Service, Center for Disease Control.
Cruse P., Foord R. (1980): The epidemiology of wound infections. -Surg. Clin. North. Am., 60: 27–40.
Garcia-Rodriguez J.A., Garcia-Sanchez J.E., Prieto-Prieto J., Rodrigo Sanchez N., Villar Galan J.L. (1978): Infecciones por anaerobios en cirugia abdominal. -Med. Clin., 70: 24–30.
Haley R.W., Culver D.H., White J.W., Morgan W.M., Emori T.G., Munn V.P., Hooton T.M. (1985): The efficacy of infection surveillance and control programs in preventing nosocomial infections in U.S. hospitals. -Am. J. Epidemiol., 12: 182–205.
Meers P.D., Ayliffe G.A.J., Emmerson A.M., Leigh D.A., Mayon-White R.T., Mackinthosh C.A., Stronge J.L. (1981): Report on the national survey of infection in hospitals 1980. - J. Hosp, Infect. (suppl. 2) :29–34.
National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council (1964): Postoperative wound infection: The influence of ultraviolet irradiation of the operative rootn and of various other factors. -Ann. Surg. 160 (suppl. 2): 2–132.
Olson M., Schwartz M. (1982): Surgical wound infections of the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Medical Center. -Minn. Med., 65: 255–258.
Olson M., O'Connor M., Schwartz M.L. (1984): Surgical, wound infections. -Ann. Surg., 199: 253–259.
Regueiro Varela B. (1982): Microbiologia de la herida operatoria infectada. In: M. Cainzos Fen nández, J. Potel Lesquereux, J.L. Puente Domín-guez (eds.), Infecciones de la herida operatoria. Salvat. Barcelona. pp. 35–52.
Stamm W.E., Martin J.M., Bennett J.V. (1977): Epidemiology of nosocomial infections due to gram-negative bacilli: aspects relevant to development and use of vaccines. -J. Infect. Dis., 136 (suppl.), S 151-S 160.
Wenzel R.P., Osterman C.H.A., Hunting K.J. (1976): Hospital-acquired infections. II Infections rates by site, service and common procedures in university hospital. -Am. J. Epidemiol., 104: 645–651.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Saenz Gonzalez, M.C., Rodrigo Sanchez, N. & Gonzalez Celador, R. Epidemiological study of surgical wound infections. Eur J Epidemiol 2, 312–315 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00419496
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00419496