Abstract:
Background: Surgical Site Infection (SSI) is one of the major complications in patients
undergoing surgeries. SSI leads to increased hospital stays, readmissions and additional health
care cost.
Objectives: To determine the incidence of SSI and associated risk factors in adult patients
undergoing surgeries in general surgical units of Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya (THK). Further
this study was aimed to study the pattern of development of SSI following surgeries and identify
causative pathogens where possible.
Methodology: A prospective cohort study was conducted between September to December
2018. A total of 332 enrolled subjects were followed-up for 30 days post-surgery. Chi-square
test was used to assess the associations of each variable with SSI and bivariate logistic
regression to assess the predictors of developing SSI.
Results: Out of the 332 patients, 33 (9.94%) developed SSI. It was found that incidence of SSI
was influenced by comorbid conditions such as diabetes mellitus (OR=3.02) and anaemia
(OR=3.83). Length of preoperative hospital stay (OR=0.33), transfusion of blood (OR=4.89),
use of drain (OR=4.73) and duration of surgery (OR=0.27) were found as the influencing
procedure related risk factors. Majority (87.9%) of all SSIs developed within two weeks
following the procedure. In 5 cases out of 33, SSI was diagnosed without microbiological
evidence. The predominant pathogen responsible for the development of SSI in the study was
Coliform spp. (36%). This was followed by Escherichia coli (25%).
Conclusions: Both patient-related and procedure-related factors play a role in the development
of SSI at general surgical units of THK. In contrast to other studies Coliform spp. was the
predominant causative pathogen for the development of SSI in the study.
