[Surgical wound infection in appendectomized patients in the surgical service of Hospital III Essalud-Chimbote].
BACKGROUND
Surgical wound infection is a devastating complication from the biological and economic point of view; it can result in serious disability and death, besides the high costs for the patient, the family and the health institutions.


OBJECTIVE
To assess if appendectomized patients in whom germs were isolated in the culture of the peritoneal exudate showed surgical wound infection.


METHODS
This study was performed on 104 patients who underwent surgery for Acute Appendicitis having been hospitalized through the Emergency Service of Hospital III-ESSALUD-Chimbote between November 1, 2001 and April 30, 2002; with ages ranging from 1 to 90 years. A peritoneal exudate culture was made for each of them.


RESULTS
22.12% of the appendectomized patients developed surgical wound infection. Of them, 82.61% showed positive results for bacteria in the peritoneal exudate culture. 81 appendectomized patients did not develop surgical wound infection; 23.46% of them showed positive results for germs in the peritoneal exudate culture.


CONCLUSIONS
It was not possible to establish a relationship between surgical wound infection and peritoneal exudate culture. There was a close correlation with the development of surgical wound infection in appendectomized patients with longer periods of time for the disease and longer operation time.
Peralta Vargas
Carmen E
CE
Posta Médica Chancay-ESSALUD, Distriti Chancay, Provincia Huaral, Lima.
López
Arístides
A
Díaz Gil
Jacqueline R
JR
Rodríguez Montoya
Ronald M
RM
Angulo Guzmán
William R
WR
D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001062:Appendectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001064:Appendicitis / Q000601:surgery*; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000382:microbiology; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004630:Emergencies; D005122:Exudates and Transudates / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D010568:Peru; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors