Prevalence of surgical site infection in general surgery in a tertiary care centre in India

Abstract

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) can be defined as an infection that is present up to 30 days after a surgical procedure if no implants are placed and up to one year if an implantable device was placed in the patient. SSI is a significant problem associated with major surgeries and is the 3rd most frequently reported nosocomial infection. This study aims to study the prevalence of SSI in the Department of Surgery, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi.Methods: A retrospective study was undertaken at the Department of General Surgery for a period of one year. Retrospective chart review was conducted from the hospital database. The rate of SSI was studied in relation to its type, the type of surgical procedure and elective vs emergency surgeries.Results: The present study revealed 12.5% prevalence of SSI in Department of General Surgery, RIMS. Among the 3 types, superficial incision SSI was most prevalent followed by deep incisional SSI and finally by organ/space SSI. The surgical procedure most commonly associated with SSI was exploratory laparotomy. An alarming 17.7% of SSI was associated with emergency surgeries as compared to 12.5% of elective surgeries.Conclusions: The consequences of SSIs greatly impact patients and the healthcare systems. Prevention of SSI requires a multifaceted approach targeting pre-, intra-, and postoperative factors. It is imperative that facilities have open-minded management teams, regulatory agencies and medical associations that want to provide the foundation required to generate a culture of patient safety in our health care systems.