A Prospective Clinico-Bacteriological Study of Surgical Site Infection

Abstract

Background Surgical Site Infections (SSI) continue to be a major concern after surgical procedures and are the third most commonly reported hospital-acquired infections. SSIs substantially contribute to increased healthcare costs, primarily due to extended hospital stays and lost work Objective days. This study aims to determine the incidence of SSI, identify associated risk factors, and analyze the common organisms isolated, along with their antibiotic sensitivity and resistance patterns. Methods This prospective study involved 100 surgeries. Infected samples from patients were collected under strict aseptic conditions and promptly processed using standard microbiological techniques. Results The overall infection rate was found to be 19 %. The incidence of SSI increased with patient age and emergency surgeries showed a significantly higher SSI rate compared to elective surgeries. The infection rate also increased notably with longer surgery duration. The most frequently isolated organism from SSIs was E. coli (36.8%), followed by staphylococci and pseudomonas (15.7%). Conclusions A majority of the isolated organisms were multidrug-resistant. The high resistance rates highlighted the need for a policy to encourage the more rational use of antibiotics.