title: Predictors of intraoperative bacterial contamination and postoperative infection in elective colorectal surgery.
abstract: This prospective study of 238 patients undergoing colorectal operations attempted to identify the risk factors for intraoperative bacterial contamination and postoperative infection. The degree of contamination was assessed by the recovery of Enterobacteriaceae spp. or Staphylococcus aureus in peritoneal irrigation fluid using dip-slides. Uni- and multivariate analyses comprised 17 parameters. Intraoperative contamination was strongly associated with postoperative infection (P less than 0.001). Abdominal drains were correlated with contamination (P = 0.019), but not with infection. Decompressive colostomy was over-represented in patients with contamination (P less than 0.001) but contributed to infection independent of its association with contamination (P less than 0.05), as did advanced age (P less than 0.05).
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*