Postoperative wound infection in colonic and rectal surgery

Abstract

Abstract There was a statistically significant association between the species of bacteria isolated from the bowel at operation, and the species subsequently isolated from a postoperative wound infection in 100 patients who underwent colonic or rectal surgery. There was also a statistically significant increase in the incidence of Gram-negative bacteriaemia in patients who developed a wound infection following such surgery. This bacteriaemia was most commonly detected before and during the operation. Its role in the aetiology of postoperative wound infection has not yet been established.