Surgical site infection and associated factors among adult patients admitted in Bale Zone, Gindhir and Bale Robe General Hospitals, Oromia region, Southeast Ethiopia, 2020

Background: Surgical site infection is among the preventable healthcare-associated infections. The magnitude and associated factors of surgical site infection in was not well documented in the study area. So the aim of this study is to assess surgical site infection and associated factors among adult patients admitted in Bale zone general hospitals, Oromia Region, Southeast Ethiopia, 2020. Methods: Hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted among all postoperative adult patients (260) who underwent surgery from March 1 to April 30/2020 in selected hospitals by simple random sampling. Pretested and structured questionnaires and observational checklists were used for data collection. Data were checked daily for completeness and entered to Epi data version 3.1 and analyzed by SPSS version 20. Frequency, percentage, mean and chart were used to present the result. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was implemented and those variables with a p-value of <0.25 in bi-variable were a candidate for multiple logistic regression. P-value < 0.05 was considered as significantly associated with outcome variables. Results: A total of 260 patients participated in the study which gives a response rate of 90%. Of study participants, 139 (53.5%) were males and more than two-thirds of the respondents were from rural 174 (66.9%). The mean ages of the patients were 40.2, standard deviation±14.20 years. The prevalence of surgical site infection was 9.2%( 95% CI [5.7- 12.7]). Patients with comorbidity disease AOR, 15.75(95% CI [2.81-33.42]), antimicrobial prophylaxis before operation AOR= 0.19(95% CI [0.06-0.53]) and body mass index ≥25 AOR, 12.5(95% CI [3-65.4]) where associated factors of surgical site infections. Conclusion: The magnitude of surgical site infections was comparatively high. Comorbidity disease, antimicrobial prophylaxis and body mass index ≥25 were associated factors. Efforts should be made to improve the appropriate and timely delivery of intravenous antimicrobial prophylaxis before surgery and health care providers should screen and manage co-morbidities.