Prospective study of diabetes and drain as a risk factor for surgical site infection

Although SSIs are not associated with a high case-fatality rate, they cause significant morbidity and huge economic burden. In 1992, the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) revised its definition of 'wound infection', creating the definition 'Surgical Site Infection' (SSI) to prevent confusion between the infection of a surgical incision and the infection of a traumatic wound. So, post-operative wound infection hereafter referred to as Surgical Site. This is a hospital based prospective study. This study was conducted in the General surgery ward of Department of Surgery in a well-equipped tertiary care center. Each patient undergoing surgery both elective and emergency were observed in the ward and carefully assessed each day for signs of surgical site infections till the day of discharge and post operative. Better control of blood sugar in diabetics and if possible opt for elective surgery and even if surgery done in emergency post operative glycemic level optimization is must. Avoid wound drains, if this is not possible, using a closed drainage system and removal of drains as soon as possible may help in control of SSI.