title: Surgical site infection in elective operations for colorectal cancer after the application of preventive measures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the prevalence of surgical site infection (SSI) after elective operations for colon and rectal cancer after the application of evidence-based preventive measures and to identify risk factors for SSI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, observational, multicenter.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary and community public hospitals in Catalonia, Spain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients undergoing elective surgical resections for colon and rectal cancer during a 9-month period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The prevalence of SSI within 30 days after the operations and risk factors for SSI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data from 611 patients were documented: 383 patients underwent operations for colon cancer and 228 underwent operations for rectal cancer. Surgical site infection was observed in 89 (23.2%) colon cancer patients (superficial, 12.8%; deep, 2.1%; and organ/space, 8.4%) and in 63 (27.6%) rectal cancer patients (superficial, 13.6%; deep, 5.7%; and organ/space, 8.3%). For colon procedures, the following independent predictive factors were identified: for incisional SSI, open procedure vs laparoscopy; for organ/space SSI, hyperglycemia at 48 hours postoperatively (serum glucose level, >200 mg/dL), ostomy, and National Nosocomial Infection System index of 1 or more. In rectal procedures, no risk factors were identified for incisional SSI; hyperglycemia at 48 hours postoperatively (serum glucose level, >200 mg/dL) and temperature lower than 36°C at the time of surgical incision were associated with organ/space SSI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of SSI in elective colon and rectal operations remains high despite the application of evidence-based preventive measures.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Coloproctologia, Servicio de Cirugía General y Aparato Digestivo, Corporación Sanitària Parc Taulí, Parc Taulí s/n, 08208 Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain. jserraa@tauli.cat
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Serra-Aracil
authors.forename: María Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: García-Domingo
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parés
authors.forename: Eloi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Espin-Basany
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Biondo
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guirao
authors.forename: Carola
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Orrego
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sitges-Serra
mesh_terms: D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006764:Hospitals, Community / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*