Despite advances in asepsis and surgical technology, surgical site infection (SSI) remains a significant cause of health and financial burden on patients and healthcare providers especially in developing countries. The dangerous health implications of SSI on patients make efforts towards identifying risk factors and strategies for their prevention, therefore, of paramount importance.A paucity of information exists regarding the incidence and risk factors of SSI following abdominal surgery in Alexandria, Egypt.
AIM:
This study aimed to describe the rate and risk factors associated with developing SSI in adult patients following abdominal surgery.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
In this prospective observational study, all patients aged ≥ 18 years undergoing abdominal surgery at the Gastrointestinal surgery unit of the Alexandria Main University Hospital between November 1st, 2022, and April 30, 2023, were included. Excluded from the study were patients undergoing gynecological, urological, vascular, plastic, or transplant surgery. Patients lost to follow-up were also excluded. SSI was diagnosed according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health Safety Network definition and data collection was done using a standardized data collection form. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for SSI.