Study of the Incidence of Postoperative Wound Infections in Orthopedic Surgeries

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) present a signicant challenge in orthopedic surgeries, leading to adverse outcomes and increased healthcare costs.Despite infection control advancements,SSIsremain problematic, especially in orthopedicwards.Unique factors,such aslowinocula for implant-related infections and the pathogenicity ofskin commensals, contribute to their occurrence. Thisstudy aimsto determine the incidence of Post-operative Wound Infections(POWI)/Surgical Site Infections(SSI) within a year of orthopedic surgeries and identify associated risk factors. The ndings can help improve patientsafety and reduce the burden of SSIsin orthopedic surgeries. Methods: The study was a prospective,single-center, observational study conducted in a tertiary care center with 101 cases of SSI identied out of 1076 eligible orthopedic patients. Data on patient characteristics, comorbidities, length of pre-operative stay, timing of SSI detection, microbiological prole, NNIS scoring, and managementstrategies were collected. Results:The study examined 101 patients with surgicalsite infections(SSIs). Patients were primarily aged 30-50 years(39.6%), with a higher proportion of males(73.27%).Wound locations varied, with 45.54% on the Right Lower Limb and 32.67% on the Left Lower Limb. SSIs were detected early (22.77%), delayed (43.56%), or late (33.66%), predominantly assupercial infections(58.42%). Staphylococcus aureus(44.55%) was the most common microorganism. NNIS scoring indicated diverse severity, with 0 (50.50%) and 1 (48.51%)score being most prevalent. Management involved antibiotics (22.77%), debridement (45.54%), and implant removal surgery (31.68%). Conclusion: The study highlights the importance of proper risk assessment and management of orthopedic patients to prevent SSIs. It also emphasizes the need for early detection and intervention, judicious use of antibiotics, and follow-up care to improve patient outcomes and reduce the nancial burden of infections. Implementing proactive measures basedonthe identiedriskfactors canleadtoimprovedpatientoutcomes anda reductioninthe incidenceofSSIsinorthopedic settings.