title: Surgical site infection following hernia repair in the day care setting of a developing country: a retrospective review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence proportion of surgical site infection following hernia repair in a daycare setting at a tertiary care hospital of a low-income country.
  
  
  METHODS
  The retrospective audit was done at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, from June 1, 2008 to May 30, 2009. Patients with age >15 years who underwent Lichenstein's open mesh repair in daycare were included. Surgical Site Infection was labelled if the records revealed any of the following: opening of the wound by the primary surgeon; pain, tenderness and raised temperature of skin; purulent discharge from the wound; if the surgeon had documented it as a surgical site infection. SPSS 16 was used for data analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After reviewing the retrieved files, 104 patients were found eligible. Of them, 102 (98%) were males. Overall wound-related complications were found in 13 (12.5%), whereas surgical site infection was found in 8 (7.7%) patients. The mean age of those with infections was 38.7+/-8 year, while that of those with no surgical site infection was 47.8+/-18 years. Smoking was found significantly associated with surgical site infection with 5.8 times higher incidence as compared to the non-smokers [OR with 95% CI: 5.6 (1.2, 25.3)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of surgical site infection after hernia repair with mesh in a daycare setting at a tertiary care hospital of a low-income country was higher than internationally reported incidence. Smoking was found to be a significant risk factor.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Amyn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pardhan
authors.forename: Samia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazahir
authors.forename: Abdul Rehman
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Alvi
authors.forename: Ghulam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Murtaza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003631:Day Care, Medical; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D059685:Herniorrhaphy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013526:Surgical Mesh / Q000009:adverse effects; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*