A Clinical Study on Factors Responsible for Surgical Site Infections Following Emergency Nontraumatic Abdominal Operations

This study aims at nding out the common organisms responsible for surgical site infections following emergency non - traumatic abdominal operations and their sensitivity patterns of the microorganisms were ascertained. Determination of factors responsible for infections to reduce the infection rate and thereby reduce the morbidity and mortality. The patients admitted to various surgical wards in KIMS General Hospital, who are operated for emergency non -traumatic abdominal operations are included in this study. A proforma for study of all consecutive patients of emergency non-traumatic abdominal operations will be used. Culture and sensitivity of the organism at the surgical site infection are documented. Various statistical and epidemiological parameters used will be are mean and standard deviation. It was revealed that, overall surgical site infection rate was17.14 per cent. It was observed that among the various host factors studied age, sex, and educational status of the patients were not statistically signicant, but presence of comorbidity played a signicant role in causing SSI. Among the perioperative / environmental factors category of operations, types of incisions, and delay to initiate operation did not play signicant role, but duration of operation and degree of wound contamination played statistically signicant role. It can be concluded from the ndings of the study that microorganisms that are normal inhabitants of our body are mainly responsible for surgical site infection (SSI). Various host factors like malnutrition, obesity, patients’ knowledge about hygiene, presence of co- morbidity etc. coupled with environmental factors such as condition of the wounds, delay to initiate operation, duration of operation, prolonged exposure of peritoneal cavity to environment, prophylactic use of antibiotics and factors associated with surgery like type of incision, type of operation greatly contribute to occurrences of SSI. So, quality of surgical care including immediate assessment of patients, resuscitative measures, adequate preparation of patients and aseptic environment are important for control of SSI.