Surgical site infection incidence in a university hospital

Abstract

Surgical site infections (SSI) are cause for postoperative complications, leading to significant expenses and greater risk of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed at to determine the incidence of SSI and its association with the patient's clinical condition, with the potential of contamination of the surgery, and the topography of the infection. It was a descriptive study accomplished at a university hospital in the period of January 2003 to December 2005. For the patients' inclusion in the study, National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System (NISS) was adopted, being notified SSI in agreement with such methodology. Data were obtained from patients’ records, microbiological exams and information of the healthcare team. The accomplishment of 17.144 surgeries was verified, with notification of 538 SSI (3.1 %), 10.1% in infected surgeries and 2.1% in clean ones. The hepatic transplant presented high rate of SSI. The infectious prevalence happened in the patients classified with American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) >3. As for the topography, 60.5% of SSI were superficial, 24.4% deep and 15.1% organ/cavity. The study showed the need of a follow-up for the patients submitted to surgery, especially for the patients transplanted due to the high rate of SSI.