title: Risk factors for wound infection after minor surgery in general practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence of and risk factors for surgical site infections in general practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, observational study of patients presenting for minor excisions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary care in a regional centre, Queensland, October 2004 to May 2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  857 patients were assessed for infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall incidence of infection was 8.6% (95% CI, 3.5%-13.8%). Excisions from lower legs and feet (P = 0.009) or thighs (P = 0.005), excisions of basal cell carcinoma (P = 0.006) or squamous cell carcinoma (P = 0.002), and diabetes (P < 0.001) were independent risk factors for wound infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate the high-risk groups for surgery in a general practice setting, such as people with diabetes and those undergoing excision of a non-melanocytic skin cancer or excision from a lower limb. Recognition of these groups could encourage more judicial use of prophylactic antibiotics and use of other interventions aimed at reducing infection rates.
authors.affiliation: James Cook University, Mackay, QLD, Australia. clarshel@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heal
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Buettner
authors.forename: Sheldon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Browning
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*