INVESTIGATION OF RISK FACTORS AND BACTERIAL PATHOGENS OF SURGICAL SITE INFECTIONS IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL IN HYDERABAD

Background: Surgical site infections are one of the most common healthcare associated infections which results in a delay in patient recovery. These infections being the most common HAI in our area, the present study was conducted to know the incidence of SSIs and to detect the risk factors associated with SSIs. Material and methods: A prospective study on SSIs was conducted over a period of seven months involving 1211 patients. History was taken from these patients regarding the risk factors of SSIs. Pus and wound swabs collected from these patients were subjected to culture. The culture isolates were identified by standard biochemical tests. Antibiotic sensitivity testing was performed using standard protocol. The incidence of SSIs was determined. Results: SSI rate was 6.6 %.The most common risk factors associated with SSIs were age >60 years, diabetes followed by obesity and prolonged duration of surgery. There was no association with smoking, malnutrition, immunosuppression, skin colonization at the time of surgery, presence of skin diseases at the incision site, peripheral vascular disease and anaemia. Majority of isolates were gram negative isolates. Klebsiella and Escherichia coli were the most common isolates. There was maximum sensitivity of isolates to carbapenems and combination drugs. Conclusion: Age>60 years, diabetics, obesity, and prolonged duration of therapy were the major risk factors associated with SSIs. Decreased incidence of SSIs & decreased isolation of exogenous pathogens in SSI, high sensitivity of gram negative bacilli in our study suggests good infection control practices in our hospital area.