A CLINICO-BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDY OF POST-OPERATIVE WOUND INFECTIONS IN GENEARAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

According to World Health Organization (WHO) hospital acquired infections is describes to be one of the major infectious diseases having a huge economic impact worldwide. Surgical site infections (SSIs) are known as most common causes of nosocomial infections in worldwide which are account for about 20% to 25% of all nosocomial infections. In a world approximately 2% to 5% of the 16 million people undergoing surgical procedures each year develop surgical site infection and according to recent data two-thirds of patients who undergo operations. In developing countries the situation is more severe where resources are scarce and staffs are always in short supply. SSI still continues to be a major problem in infection control and surgical practices even in hospitals with most modern facilities. Post operative infection are usually caused by exogenous and/ or endogenous micro organisms enter the operative wound after the surgery or during the surgery which are usually more serious, appearing within five to seven days of surgery. In addition to these risk factors there is also involvement of virulence and the invasiveness of the organism physiological state of the wound tissue and the immunological integrity of the host are also important factors that determine whether infection  can occurs or not. Therefore in developing countries problem gets more complicated due to poor infection control practices, inappropriate use of antimicrobials and overcrowded hospitals.    

Aim: The main aim of this study is to study factors associated with the infection occurrence of SSI and their antibiotic sensitivities in surgery wards of hospital.

Material and methods: Present study was conducted in the department of surgery in collaboration with the department of microbiology in our hospital. Total 200 patients having operative surgery with various problems were taken in this study attending to hospital as in patient department (IPD) of our hospital. A clinical study of patients undergoing surgery were selected which has to come across this surgical emergency and treatment and skillful management in surgery department of our hospital. The patients with all age group were included in this study.

Result: Of the total 200 patients, 116 (58%) suffered from wound infections. in routine and emergency surgery the infection rate was calculated and it was observed that the infection rate was high in emergency surgery. The effect of infection and pre-operative antibiotic therapy showed 74 out of 200 (37%) patients without pre-operative antibiotic prophylaxis developed infection which compare to 42 (21%) out of 200 patients under antibiotic coverage.

Conclusion: Post-operative wound infections are serious problem which has to be tackled due to its increased morbidity, mortality and medical care costs. Guidelines and protocols for basic infection control practices such as hand washing, written protocols of perioperative, intraoperative and post operative infection control practices should be widely available. Hence, active surveillance program is recommended to each and every hospital.

Keywords:  Post-operative infections, Surgical Site Infection, Wound infections, Infection Control.