Incidence of postoperative infections in non-immunocompromised pediatric patients with low absolute neutrophil counts preoperatively.
OBJECTIVE
To discover the incidence of postoperative surgical site infections in non-immunocompromised pediatric patients with an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) < or = 1,000 preoperatively.


METHODS
Office and hospital charts of consecutive patients with preoperative ANC < or = 1,000 undergoing elective surgery over a three-year period were reviewed for evidence of postoperative surgical site infection.


RESULTS
Six of 200 patients with preoperative ANCs < or = 1,000 developed a postoperative surgical site infection, an infection rate of 3.0%. One of 35 patients with preoperative ANCs < or = 500 developed a surgical site infection. The mean ANC of the study population was 800 (range 200 to 1,000); the mean ANC of the group with postoperative infection likewise was 800 (range 500 to 1,000).


CONCLUSIONS
There was a postoperative surgical site infection rate of 3.0% in non-immunocompromised children who had a preoperative ANC < or = 1,000, similar to the overall surgical site infection rate in children. Cancellation of elective procedures in non-immunocompromised children with ANC < or = 1,000 is not warranted on the grounds of concern about postoperative infection.
Taylor
Gregory S
GS
Department of Pediatric Urology, Primary Children's Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, USA.
Cartwright
Patrick C
PC
Snow
Brent W
BW
D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000150:complications*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014589:Utah / Q000453:epidemiology