Predictors of Surgical Site Infections in Major Surgery Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Mawalla Brian, Mshana Stephen E, Chalya Phillipo L, Imirzalioglu Can, Mahalu William
Primary Institution: Weill Bugando University College of Health Sciences, Mwanza, Tanzania
Hypothesis
What factors predict surgical site infections among patients undergoing major surgery?
Conclusion
Surgical site infections are common among patients at Bugando Medical Centre, with several factors predicting their occurrence.
Supporting Evidence
- Surgical site infection (SSI) was detected in 65 patients, giving an overall infection rate of 26.0%.
- Pre-morbid illness, use of drain, iodine alone in skin preparation, prolonged duration of operation, and cigarette smoking were significant predictors of SSI.
- Staphylococcus aureus was the predominant organism isolated from infected wounds.
Takeaway
This study found that many patients get infections after surgery, and certain things like having other health problems or smoking can make it more likely.
Methodology
This was a cross-sectional prospective study involving patients who underwent major surgery, collecting pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative data.
Potential Biases
The absence of an antibiotic policy in the surgical wards might have influenced the results.
Limitations
Failure to perform anaerobic culture might have contributed to the low prevalence of SSI.
Participant Demographics
The mean age was 38 years, with 46.4% males and 53.6% females.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.01
Confidence Interval
95% CI for various predictors provided in the text.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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