title: Delayed and recurring infection in postoperative abdominal wounds.
abstract: Delayed and recurring wound infection in the abdominal wall of twenty-five patients, producing a variety of signs and symptoms months or years after original operations, were most frequently associated with silk sutures and endogenous infection due to Escherichia coli. The restorative procedures employed at a small community hospital varied from incision and drainage to en bloc wound excision. Timing of operations, culture data, pre- and postoperative antibiotics, and changes in the type of suture material were important adjuncts to therapy.
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000601:surgery; D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D012008:Recurrence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D013537:Sutures / Q000009:adverse effects