A prospective study of incisional surgical site infections in abdominal surgeries in Maheswara Medical College

Abstract

Infections that occur in the wound created by an invasive surgical procedure are generally referred to as surgical site infections (SSIs). SSIs are one of the most important causes of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs), second only to urinary tract infection (UTI) in incidence. SSI develops in at least 5 % of hospitalized patients undergoing an operative procedure in developed countries, raising the costs of healthcare both to the public and the healthcare delivery system. According to a report by the International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC), overall more than 1 million people worldwide were suffering from nosocomial infections, and in India alone, the rate was over 25 percent, with SSI occupying a significant share. 1 The incidence is likely underestimated because of inadequate surveillance and incomplete post-discharge data. Extensive surveys have shown that SSIs are associated with considerable morbidity and it has been reported that over one third of postoperative deaths are related, at least in part, to SSIs. SSI can range from a fairly minor wound discharge with no other complications to a life-threatening condition. Other outcomes include poor scars that are cosmetically unacceptable and cause psychological stress. 2 SSI is, in most scenarios, a preventable HCAI, that can double the ABSTRACT