Frequency and Risk Factors of Surgical Site Infection with and without Antibiotic Prophylaxis in Adults Undergoing Minor Trauma Surgery

Background: Trauma surgeons are more likely to experience surgical site infections (SSI). Preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis was a common strategy in trauma procedures. This research aimed to determine the frequency and risk factors of surgical site infection with and without antibiotic prophylaxis in adults undergoing minor trauma surgery. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional investigation was carried out. The surgical emergency and trauma units at Jinnah Hospital and THQ Hospital DGK provided the data for this investigation. Data from 190 patients were gathered and divided into two groups. Before surgery (Group A) took antibiotic prophylaxis while Group B did not. Standard surgical protocols were followed during the surgical operation. Patients were checked for postoperative fever, surgical site infection, and discharge at the incision site. On the third, seventh, and twelfth postoperative days, the wound was checked. The chi-square test was used for analysis and P<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Surgical site infections (SSI) occurred in 18 patients out of 190 patients, with 6 (6.3%) patients from group A and 12 (12.6%) from group B. Two (2.1%) of the patients in Group A who developed SSI were female, whereas no female patients in Group B experienced it. Contaminated wounds, diabetes, and improper surgical site cleaning were the three main risk factors for SSI in minor trauma cases. Conclusion: The study found that the use of prophylactic antibiotics in minor trauma cases performed in adult patients significantly decreases the incidence of SSI.