ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to estimate the economical impacts of surgical site infection (SSI) after general surgeries. METHODS: A prospective study was performed with the surgeries from September to December, 2002 and the SSI cases were collected based on the definitions of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The length of stay (LOS) and the hospital charge for the SSI group were compared with the non-SSI (NSSI) group by a matched cohort study for age, sex, operation procedure, and NNIS risk groups. RESULTS: There were 1,007 cases of surgeries and the 52 cases of SSI and the 26 cases have been matched. The LOS of the SSI group was 5.2 days longer than that of the NSSI group (P<0.05) which was significant, The injection and dressing meal, and total hospital charge were \157,562, \72,251, and \2,153,964 more in SSI group than those of NSSI group (P<0,05) for post-operation stay. The charge of medication and room in SSI group were \558,146 and \723,114 more than those of the NSSI group, but there were no significant difference. CONCLUSION: The SSI could increase the LOS and the hospital charge; therefore, this economic loss had an impact on the hospitals as well as the patients. To estimate the economic impacts of SSI precisely, however, further studies are needed to analyze and control other factors for the cost such as a type of surgery. In addition, the scope and setting of cost analysis should be expanded into the aspects of an individual, the hospital, and society.