Background: Surgical site infections are one of the most important typesof healthcare-associated infections. Effective surveillance of SSIs and feed backof data on infection rates to hospital leadership and surgeons could significantlyreduce SSI rates. Objectives: to reduce the incidence of SSIs in General SurgicalDepartments at Kasr El-Aini Hospital through determining the incidence and riskfactors of SSIs, the epidemiological profile of infected cases and settingrecommendations for minimizing the occurrence of SSIs. Subjects andmethods: a total of 542 patients were enrolled in the current study and wereprospectively followed throughout the study period (9 months) at the 2 selectedSurgical Units and their corresponding outpatient clinics for detection ofpostoperative SSIs up to 30 days after surgery. Fifty patients developed SSI atthe end of the study period and 492 patients were not infected. A matched control(n=300) was randomly selected from the non-infected group through a nestedcase-control study. Data collection sheets were completed for 350 newlyadmitted surgical inpatients only. A pretested data collection sheet was designedto collect and record preoperative, operative and postoperative data. Patientswere classified according to the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance(NNIS) risk index score which was calculated by assigning one point for acontaminated or dirty wound, an ASA score > 3, and surgical procedures lastinglonger than the NNIS-derived 75th percentile for the duration of procedure.Results: Surveillance of SSIs in the current study revealed an SSI incidence of9%. The most frequent organisms detected by wound swab cultures were E. coli(29.8%), followed by Staph. aureus (17.1%). Risk factors of SSI detected byunivariate analysis included associated co-morbidities (diabetes, liver diseases,obesity and malignancy), previous hospitalization in the last year, a prolongedduration of preoperative hospital stay, anaemia, hypoalbuminaemia, elevatedliver and kidney enzymes, elevated TLC, preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis, anASA score > 2, a prolonged operative duration, operations performed by lessexperienced surgeons, a wound class > 2, using drains and a prolonged durationof postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis. Risk factors detected by multivariatelogistic regression analysis included a wound class > 2 (i.e. contaminated anddirty), diabetes and malignancy, previous hospitalization in the last year, elevatedTLC and preoperative antimicrobial prophylaxis. Conclusion: Further studies areneeded to continuously upgrade SSI data in General Surgical Departments atKasr El-Aini Hospital and other Departments as well. Recommendations:Establishment of an organized SSI surveillance program in Kasr El-AiniHospital, implementing administrative regulations to reduce the length ofpreoperative hospital stay, proper use of prophylactic antibiotics and adequatetraining of new surgeons and nurses.