title: Predictors of surgical site infections of the abdomen in Lagos, Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The issue of nosocomial infection constitute a significant burden on any health care facility particularly in resource constrained centers of many developing countries.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  A prospective cross sectional study was designed to determine the baseline surgical site infection rate following abdominal surgeries, determine the influence of various factors on infection rates, evaluate the predictive value of the ASA, SENIC, NNIS indices on infection rates and identify the common aerobic and anaerobic organisms responsible for such infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty four consecutive patients who had abdominal surgeries were studied at the Lagos University, Teaching Hospital over a one year period. Demographic, clinical and other parameters were obtained with aid of a proforma. Those who developed surgical site infection had swabs taken for aerobic, anaerobic cultures and antimicrobial sensitivity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Wound infection rate was 17.4%. Surgeries involving the small bowels and the colon made up 75% of all infected cases. The predominant organisms isolated were Pseudomonas, enterobacter, proteus species Bacteroides was the most frequently isolated anaerobic organism. The predictive factors for infection were long surgeries, surgical procedures classified as contaminated or dirty, high ASA (American Society of Anaesthesilogist) scores, SENIC (Study of Efficacy of Nosocomial Infection Control), NNIS (National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Index) scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The predictive scores can be utilized to identify high risk surgeries and institute appropriate measures to reduce surgical site infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, College of Medicine University of Lagos, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-araba, Lagos Nigeria. bmofikoya@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Bolaji Oyawale
authors.initials: BO
authors.lastname: Mofikoya
authors.forename: Mary Theresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Niemogha
authors.forename: Folasade Tolulope
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Ogunsola
authors.forename: Oluwole Ayoola
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Atoyebi
mesh_terms: D034841:Abdominal Cavity / Q000601:surgery*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D002423:Cause of Death; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents