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Incidence and risk factors of surgical site infection in general surgery in a developing country

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Abstract

Purpose

To investigate the incidence of surgical site infections (SSIs) according to risk factors, etiological agents, antimicrobial resistance rates of pathogens, and antimicrobial prophylaxis (AMP) in a developing country.

Methods

Prospective surveillance of SSIs was carried out in general surgery (GS) units between May 2005 and April 2009.

Results

SSI was diagnosed in 415 (10.8 %) patients. Cefazolin was used as AMP in 780 (49 %) operations, whereas broad-spectrum antibiotics were used in the remaining operations. AMP was administered for >24 h in 69 and 64 % of the GS patients. The most significant risk factors for SSI after GS were total parenteral nutrition, transfusion, and a drainage catheter. The most common pathogen was Escherichia coli, but all the isolated pathogens were multiresistant.

Conclusion

AMP is effective for reducing the risk of SSI; however, the prolonged use of AMP and broad-spectrum antibiotics may be associated with the emergence of resistant bacterial strains.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Editing Office of Erciyes University for suggestions about English usage.

Conflict of interest

No competing financial interests exist.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Infection Control Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, 38039, Kayseri, Turkey

    Emine Alp & Mehmet Doganay

  2. Infection Control Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey

    Emine Alp & Safiye Ersoy

  3. Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey

    Ferhan Elmali

  4. Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey

    Can Kucuk

Authors
  1. Emine Alp
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  2. Ferhan Elmali
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  3. Safiye Ersoy
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  4. Can Kucuk
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  5. Mehmet Doganay
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Correspondence to Emine Alp.

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Alp, E., Elmali, F., Ersoy, S. et al. Incidence and risk factors of surgical site infection in general surgery in a developing country. Surg Today 44, 685–689 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-013-0705-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00595-013-0705-3

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