Risk factors associated with surgical site infections following vascular surgery at a German university hospital.
Surgical site infection (SSI) after vascular surgery is a serious complication increasing morbidity, mortality, and costs for healthcare systems. A 4-year retrospective cohort study was performed in a university hospital with patients who had undergone arterial vascular surgery below the aortic arch. Investigated variables included demographics and clinical data. Forty-four of 756 patients experienced SSI, 29 of which were superficial, five were deep, and 10 had organ/space infections. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (22%), enterococci (20%), and Staphylococcus aureus (18%) were the most common pathogens. Independent risk factors for SSIs were femoral grafting [odds ratio (OR) 6·7], peripheral atherosclerotic disease, Fontaine stages III-IV (OR 4·1), postoperative drainage >5 days (OR 3·6), immunosuppression (OR 2·8), duration of operation >214 min (OR 2·8), and body mass index >29 (OR 2·6). The application of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis was an independent protective factor (OR 0·2). Patients with certain risk factors for SSIs warrant special attention for infection prevention.
Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. ott.ella@mh-hannover.de
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D000368:Aged; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D058017:Vascular Grafting / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data