Surgical Site Infection in Colorectal Surgery: Impact of Contaminated Surgical Indications in a Prospective Cohort Study

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a common complication in colorectal surgery and is associated with increased morbidity, prolonged hospital stay, and adverse outcomes. Identifying factors associated with its occurrence is essential for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies. This prospective observational study was conducted at the Coloproctology Unit of a university hospital and included patients undergoing abdominal colorectal surgery between January and December 2025. Clinical, surgical, and microbiological variables were analyzed for their association with SSI occurrence. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. The overall SSI rate was 15%. A statistically significant association was observed between it and procedures performed for peritonitis, intestinal transit reconstruction, and stoma closure (p = 0.014). Higher SSI rates were observed in patients with weight loss, smoking, obesity, hypoalbuminemia, elevated glycated hemoglobin levels, emergency surgery, perioperative blood transfusion, and anastomotic leakage, although these associations did not reach statistical significance. Most infections were superficial. The isolated microorganisms were generally susceptible to antimicrobial agents, except for a high resistance rate to amoxicillin–clavulanate. As a frequent complication in colorectal surgery, SSI was significantly associated with procedures performed for peritonitis, intestinal transit reconstruction, and stoma closure. These findings highlight the importance of surgical indication and perioperative management in reducing infection risk.