title: Risk factors for surgical site infections in neurosurgery patients with antibiotic prophylaxis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This prospective study aimed to determine the spectrum and the main risk factors of surgical site infection (SSI) after neurosurgical procedures in our clinic.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients undergoing neurosurgery between November 1, 2001, and November 1, 2002, were recruited for the study. All patients were followed for a minimum of 2 weeks postoperatively and all SSIs were recorded. The complete medical records of each case were reviewed, and data on 14 possible risk factors were extracted. Statistical analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for SSIs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 31 postoperative SSIs were identified among 503 cases included in the study, with a resulting overall infection rate of 6.2%. The risk of SSI was increased by age (odds ratio [OR], 1.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.0-1.1; P = .039), operation type such as "shunt operations" (OR, 670.4; 95% CI, 2.6-171123.1; P = .021), presence of foreign body (OR, 141.0; 95% CI, 2.5-7925.9; P = .016), presence of diabetes mellitus (OR, 24.3; 95% CI, 2.1-284.9; P = .011), and intracranial pressure monitoring (OR, 4878.9; 95% CI, 23.8-1001229; P = .002). The predominantly isolated microorganisms in patients with SSIs were Staphylococcus aureus (22 [71.0%]), Acinetobacter baumanii (5 [16.1%]), and Staphylococcus epidermidis (4 [12.9%]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SSIs remain an important problem in neurosurgery. Identification of the risk factors for SSI will help physicians to improve patient care and may decrease mortality, morbidity, and health care costs of neurosurgery patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Cukurova University, Balcali-Adana 01330, Turkey. ermant@cu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Tahsin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Erman
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Demirhindi
authors.forename: A Iskender
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Göçer
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tuna
authors.forename: Faruk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ildan
authors.forename: Bülent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boyar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology