title: Risk factors in wound infection following urologic operations: a prospective study.
abstract: A total of 134 urologic operations were studied prospectively for postoperative wound infection, the methodology involving direct intraoperative swab taking. Patients' variables were (mean +/- SD): age 32.4 +/- 20.7 years, Quetelet index 27.4 +/- 8, duration of operation 98 +/- 34 minutes, and male:female ratio 9.3:1. Of the 131 intraoperative swabs 28 (21%) were positive, 97% of the organisms being aerobic; 16% of the patients were nasal carriers of S. aureus. The overall wound infection rate was 9%, and it prolonged hospital stay by six days average. Significant risk factors (and their magnitude) were: age over 60 years (x 2.2), prolonged preoperative hospital stay (x 15), and wound contamination (x 4.3 and x 14.3 for classes 3 and 4 wounds respectively). Neither diabetes mellitus, obesity, nor surgeon's rank was contributory. We conclude that, although the 9% rate of postoperative wound infection was acceptable, appropriate prophylactic antibiotics may reduce it further, and, from our data, we would recommend an aminoglycoside (e.g. Amikacin) and Ampicillin combined.
authors.affiliation: Division of Urology, King Fahd Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Taha
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Sayed
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grant
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Twum-Danso
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wosornu
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000382:microbiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*