Study of Surgical Site Infections following Gynaecological Surgery at tertiary care teaching hospital in Rural India

Objectives: To find out the incidence, risk factors and microorganisms responsible for of surgical site infections. Material and Methods: The prospective observational study was carried out in the tertiary care teaching hospital over a period of two years Consecutive 100 cases of surgical site infections(SSI) following obstetric and gynecological abdominal surgery were analyzed using Statistical Package of Social Sciences version -16.0 Results: The incidence of surgical site infections was 2.8 percent among 3498 surgeries performed during study period. Overweight, previous laparotomy scars, emergency surgery and caesarean section following prolong labour were the common risk factors associated with the development of SSI. Suboptimum peri-operative conditions related to preparation of patient for surgery, below ideal operation theatre conditions, humidity, long list of operations, practice of shaving of part day prior, water scarcity in summer and casual approach by health professionals while surgical scrubbing and donning and uncontrolled movement of patients relatives in the postoperative ward predisposed patients for development of SSI. Staphylococcus aureus and gram negative bacilli like E.Coli and pseudomonas were mainly isolated from the wound specimens. Conclusion: Surgical site infections can be prevented by proper pre-operative assessment of cases, strict compliance with scrubbing and donning protocols, skillful surgery, avoiding overcrowding in operation theatre and post operative wards and by maintaining conducive theatre environment.

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