Surgical Site Infections in a Rural Hospital: A Prospective Study.

ABSTRACT

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the common causes of hospital-acquired infections, leading to high morbidity and mortality. SSIs contribute mainly about the increased health care costs in terms of prolonged hospital stay and lost work days. The infections are different in different areas and largely neglected in our area. It is very important to document and notify the incidence of SSI, which will help in proper categorization and surveillance of the patients, helps to identify the type of patients susceptible for wound infections. Aims and Objectives: To estimate the incidence, study bacteriology, and the factors associated with the occurrence of SSI in the study setting. Materials and Methods: The present prospective study was conducted in the surgical wards of MNR Medical College and Hospital, Sangareddy, Medak District, Telangana, India. Clinico-bacteriological follow-up of 100 post-operative cases to the development of SSI, as per the Center for Disease Prevention and Control criteria (1991). Incidence was expressed as the infection rate per 100 operations. Bacteriology was documented by sending pus for analysis. Association was tested by applying the Student’s t-test and the Chi-square test of significance. P < 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: The SSI rate was estimated to be 8% for clean, 58.3% for clean-contaminated, 85% for contaminated operations, and 66.6% for dirty cases. 38.46% of the isolates were Escherichia coli. Conclusion: The study emphasizes the need for the evidence-based infection control and to identify the patients susceptible for wound infection which helps in reducing the hospital stay and reduces hospital cost.