A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY ON INCIDENCE OF SURGICAL SITE INFECTION, BACTERIOLOGICAL PROFILE AND PRESCRIBING PATTERN OF ANTIBIOTIC IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Background and objective: Surgical site infection is a hospital acquired infection occurs at surgical site during the post operative periods. It is ranked as the third commonest healthcare associated infection. The aim of the study is to evaluate the incidence rate of infection in post operative patients, bacteriological profile and the prescribing pattern of antibiotics and also to determine the most common type of surgical procedures done in surgery ward. Methodology: A Retrospective longitudinal descriptive study was carried out for a period of 6 months in a tertiary care teaching hospital. During the study period, case files of all patients who underwent surgery were reviewed, and collected based on the selection criteria. Data was analyzed using SPSS and Microsoft excel 2013. Results: Out of 264 study subjects, 11 patients were affected with surgical site infection and the infection rate was 4.17%. Escherichia coli were found to be the predominantly isolated causative organism. Prescribing pattern of antibiotics was analyzed and found that cefuroxime + sulbactam followed by ceftriaxone and metronidazole were the commonly prescribed antibiotics during the operative period. Conclusion: It is important to employ a strict infection control committee in all the hospitals, if it is lacking so as to monitor and provide recommendations at all level of prevention of infection. And the overall management of surgical wounds can be improved by sharing of clinical knowledge and providing enhanced education to the healthcare workers, patients and care givers.