title: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and peristomal infection: an avoidable complication with the use of a minimum skin incision.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a fast and simple method. Although considered safe, PEG is associated with many potential complications. Peristomal infection is the complication most frequently reported.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze patients who underwent PEG and the association of peristomal infection with the extent of skin incision (SI) and usage of prophylactic antibiotics (PA).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of the records of 120 patients who underwent PEG was carried out. Patients were divided into 3 subgroups: (1) Patients with SI 10 mm/without PA, (2) Patients with SI up to 5 mm/without PA, and (3) Patients with SI up to 5 mm/with PA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peristomal infection occurred in 12.8% of patients from subgroup 1, and in 2.2% of patients from subgroup 2. There was no infection in subgroup 3. Peristomal infection was associated with the SI extent (P=0.01) and there was no association with PA (P=0.3). SI >5 mm presented an odds ratio of 10.5 (95% confidence interval, 1.58-68.42) for the occurrence of peristomal infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of PA did not seem to reduce peristomal infection rates. However, minimal SI was significantly associated with reduction of this complication.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Department of Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brazil. fagundesrb@gmail.com
authors.forename: Renato Borges
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Fagundes
authors.forename: João Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Cantarelli
authors.forename: Kalil
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.forename: Guilherme Lang
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Motta
mesh_terms: D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000601:surgery*; D062109:Dermatologic Surgical Procedures; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005774:Gastrostomy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control