A study on surgical site infection in elective abdominal surgeries in a tertiary care center

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) in abdominal surgeries contribute significantly to morbidity and hospitalization costs, impacting medical resources. This study aims to assess the prevalence of SSIs, identify common organisms responsible for these infections, and analyze the antibiogram of the isolates. Materials and Methods: This observational prospective cross-sectional study included all patients who underwent elective abdominal surgeries from January 2021 to October 2022 at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, a tertiary care center in Manipur, India. A total of 140 patients were analyzed to calculate the prevalence of SSIs. Results: Among the 140 patients, the prevalence of SSIs was found to be 12.86%. Factors associated with a higher occurrence of SSIs included being aged 60 years or older, having a body mass index >30 kg/m 2 , prolonged preoperative hospitalization, and extended surgical duration. The most commonly isolated organism was Staphylococcus aureus (33.33%), with no growth observed in 33.33% of samples. Most isolates demonstrated sensitivity to antibiotics such as vancomycin, tigecycline, and teicoplanin, whereas resistance was noted against common antibiotics like penicillin, erythromycin, and cotrimoxazole. Conclusion The findings of this study underscore the need for enhanced hospital infection control policies, antimicrobial stewardship, and prescribing guidelines. We recommend regular surveillance to monitor the susceptibility patterns of these pathogens and to select appropriate regimens for both prophylaxis and treatment of surgical wound infections.