title: Computer-aided surveillance of surgical infections and identification of risk factors.
abstract: A continuous record of postoperative surgical infections was carried out by electronic data processing (EDP) of 4340 orthopaedic and general operations. The overall infection rate was 6.3%, ranging from 2.3% (clean wounds) to 27.1% (dirty wounds). The corresponding deep infection rates were 1.6%, 0.4% and 4.6%. Employing a multiple logistic regression analysis, 10 risk factors were evaluated. Factors found to be significant were: wound contamination, department, duration of operation, date of operation and age, and in addition for the department of general surgery: surgeon, planning of operation, length of preoperative stay and anatomic groups. A statistical model for identification of risk patients is described. Postoperative stay was on average 20.5 days longer in infected patients. We find that EDP-recording may result in an annual cost reduction of at least 175,000 pounds for our hospital.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Frederiksberg Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bremmelgaard
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Raahave
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beier-Holgersen
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Sørensen
mesh_terms: D003718:Denmark; D001330:Electronic Data Processing; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009985:Orthopedics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control