Nosocomial infections and obesity in surgical patients.
OBJECTIVE
There is an increased morbidity and mortality associated with surgery in the obese patient. This study was conducted to determine risk factors and compare the nosocomial infection rate in obese and nonobese surgical patients.


METHODS
A total of 395 surgical patients were evaluated. BMI was calculated for each patient. Various conventional risk factors for nosocomial infections were recorded. Biochemical parameters with plasma total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were measured. The diagnosis of infection was made according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Univariate and two-step multivariate logistic regression methods were used for determination of nosocomial infection risk factors.


RESULTS
There were 117 nosocomial infections identified in 96 of 395 surgically operated patients. A significant increase in the total number of nosocomial infections was determined in obese patients compared with the normal-weight patients (p < 0.05). High-density lipoprotein-cholesterol below the 10th percentile increased risk of surgical site infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that obesity is an important risk factor for postoperative nosocomial infection.
Cantürk
Zeynep
Z
Department of Endocrinology and Metabolis, Kocaeli University, School of Medicine, Kocaeli, Turkey. canturkz@yahoo.com
Cantürk
Nuh Zafer
NZ
Cetinarslan
Berrin
B
Utkan
Nihat Zafer
NZ
Tarkun
Ilhan
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D014280:Triglycerides