EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SURGICAL SITE INFECTION IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE IN NORTH INDIA

Background and Objective- Surgical site infections are one of the most common cause of nosocomial infections and second most common cause of maternal mortality next to PPH. Surgical site infection being a relatively serious problem in our health institution, there are scanty published reports on the risk factors that are involved in SSIs in our local hospitals necessitatingfurther research to identify the indispensable factors responsible for high infection rate

Methodology- Data were collected prospectively using predefined data collection forms which was developed after review of literature to identify risk factors for SSI. The form included patients demographic features, potential risk factors for SSI. A surveillance system as suggested by the CDC NHSN criteriawere used for diagnosing SSI. SSI was defined as a wound swab culture confirmed infection at the site of surgery within 30 days after an operation . SSI was defined as per NHSN criteria. Data was collected daily on all study participants after obtaining informed written consent, and followed them until discharge. The post discharge surveillance was done by actual patient visit in majority of patients (81%) or by mobile phones

Results- Increasing age , increasing parity , anemia , hypertension , diabetes and poor nutrition, obesity were found to be independent risk factors for development of SSI.

Conclusion- A proper assessment of identifiable risk factors that predisposes to SSI and their correction may help reduce SSI rates.