[The level of microbial contamination and frequency of surgical site infections at the department of orthopedic and traumatologic surgery of the clinical hospital center in Kragujevac].
BACKGROUND
The level of microbial contamination is an important risk factor for surgical site infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of surgical site infections in regard to the level of microbial contamination at the Department of Orthopedic and Traumatologic Surgery of the Clinical Hospital Center in Kragujevac.


METHODS
This study included 474 patients who underwent surgery in the period from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2002 at the Department of Orthopedic and Traumatologic Surgery of the Clinical Hospital Center in Kragujevac. Hospital infections were identified using CDC definitions, modified to fit our circumstances. The traditional classification of surgical sites in regard to the level of microbial contamination includes three categories: clean, contaminated and dirty.


RESULTS
The incidence of surgical site infections was higher at the Orthopedic Surgery Ward (5.94%) compared to Traumatologic Surgery Ward (5.02%). Additionally, a significantly higher frequency of deep surgical site infections, which were classified as clean were established at the Orthopedic Surgery Ward, in regard to the level of microbial contamination, whereas the greatest frequency of surface infections in clean surgical sites (p=0. 000) were established at the Traumatologic Surgery Ward. Surgical site infections were more frequent in patients undergoing multiple surgeries at the Orthopedic Surgery Ward zhan in those treated at the Traumatologic Surgery Ward (p=0.037).


CONCLUSIONS
It is of utmost importance to estimate the frequency of surgical stie infections and identify associated risk factors in order to undertake adequate measures for their prevention and control.
Grujović
Zoran
Z
Medicinski fakultet u Kragujevcu, Klinicki centar "Kragujevac" Centar za ortopediju i traumatologiju.
Ilić
Milena
M
Milicić
Biljana
B
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery*; D015022:Yugoslavia / Q000453:epidemiology