Unveiling the burden of surgical site infections (SSI) and its determinants in tertiary care centre

Abstract

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are prevalent hospital-acquired infections that pose a significant risk to patients, often leading to complications and even death. The incidence of SSIs can vary among different hospitals due to various factors that influence their development. The objective of this study was to examine the occurrence and determine the factors associated with Surgical Site Infections (SSI). From August 2021 to July 2022, our tertiary care center conducted a retrospective observational study. The surgical sites were carefully assessed and categorized, and infected wounds underwent culture and sensitivity testing. The collected data was then analyzed using SPSS 13 software: Among the 360 patients studied, 78 (22%) developed surgical site infections (SSI). Risk factors for SSI included age, gender, BMI, diabetes, blood transfusion, and longer preoperative waiting time. Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant pathogen, and resistance to tetracycline was common.Surgical site infections (SSI) are prevalent, indicating a high incidence. Among the contributing factors, gender, extremes of BMI, diabetes mellitus, and blood transfusion emerge as influential risk factors associated with the occurrence of SSI.