What really affects surgical site infection rates in general surgery in a developing country?
OBJECTIVE
To assess the risk factors for surgical site infection and the effects of selected infection control measures on surgical site infection rates in a general surgery unit.


METHODS
Surgical site infection rates and adherence to infection control measures were observed in a general surgery unit.


RESULTS
In multivariate analysis, male gender, a high American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score, malignancy, transfusion, open surgery, and contaminated and dirty operations were found to be statistically significant risk factors for surgical site infection. Among infection control measures, only the avoidance of preoperative hair removal and a longer AMP duration had protective effects on SSI.


CONCLUSIONS
The most important risk factor influencing surgical site infection in general surgery was found to be the contamination level of the wound.
Erciyes University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Kayseri, Turkey; Erciyes University, Faculty of Medicine, Infection Control Committee, Kayseri, Turkey. Electronic address: ealp@erciyes.edu.tr.
Emine
E
Alp
Erciyes University, Faculty of Medicine, Infection Control Committee, Kayseri, Turkey.
Dilek
D
Altun
Erciyes University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Kayseri, Turkey; Erciyes University, Faculty of Medicine, Infection Control Committee, Kayseri, Turkey.
Aysegul
A
Ulu-Kilic
Erciyes University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, Kayseri, Turkey.
Ferhan
F
Elmali
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
Bundle; General surgery; Infection control measures; Risk factors; Surgical site infections