INCIDENCE OF POST-SURGICAL INFECTION. PROSPECTIVE STUDY 1996–2006

Abstract

Introduction and Objectives: Surgical infection is the third most frequent hospital infection (14–16%) and the first in frequency in surgical patients (38%). We present here the data on incidence of post-surgical infection in our Service over the last 11 years.

Materials and Methods: Between 1/1/1996 and 31/12/2006, we monitored, prospectively, 14,099 patients admitted to and operated on in our Service and collected epidemiological, clinical, surgical and microbiological data. We analyzed the rate of infection in programmed, urgent and deferred surgery.

Results: The mean rate of incidence of osteoarticular infection was 1.46% (0.77–1.89%) and the mean rate of incidence of non-osteoarticular infection was 1.47% (0.63–3.01%). There were 122 cases of osteoarticular infection diagnosed in programmed surgeries (8,381 patients) a percentage of 1.45% and 108 cases of osteoarticular infections in urgent surgeries (5,718 patients) a percentage of 1.88% during the period studied (p=0,23). There have been 77 cases of non-osteoarticular infections diagnosed in programmed surgical procedures, a percentage of 0.91% and 133 cases of non-osteoarticular infections diagnosed in urgent surgical procedures, a percentage of 2.32% (p< 0,05) over the last 11 years.

Discussion and Conclusions: The mean rate of osteoarticular infection is higher in urgent surgical procedures in comparison with the rate in programmed surgical procedures, but the difference is not statistically significant. The mean rate of non-osteoarticular infection in urgent surgical procedures is significantly higher in comparison with the rate of non-osteoarticular infection in programmed surgery. Our data is within the standards accepted by the scientific community. We believe that this study helps us to control our infections and serves as a guide when implementing infection therapy.