Surgical site infections in the department of general surgery, thanjavur medical college - a prospective study

Introduction: Surgical site infections ( SSI ) can be defined as Infections occurring in the surgical patients within 30 days or 1 year without or with an implant respectively [1]. It is the leading cause of complication in the post operative period and one of the most common causes of HAI leading to serious complications. Aim of the Study: To study the incidence of surgical site infections in our hospital in comparison with the standard guidelines, to estimate the burden among the different classes of surgical wounds, to determine the significance of prophylactic antibiotics and to identify the risk factors and most common causative organism associated with Surgical site infections. Materials and Methods: A Prospective Cohort Study was conducted among patients admitted in the Thanjavur Medical College Hospital, in the Department of General surgery from May 2019 till May 2020 and undergoing general surgical procedures. Results: The incidence of SSIs is 150 patients (5.24%) among 2860 patients. Emergency cases accounted for 98 cases (65.33%), and Elective cases 52 cases (34.66%). Dirty class of wounds 64 cases (42.67%), Most common SSI was Superficial site infection 109 cases (72.67%). Patients had drainage tube inserted in 102 cases (68%), Foleys catheter in 110 cases (73.33%) and blood transfusion in 83 cases (55.33%), ASA grade most common was ASA 2 E 74 cases (49.33%). Most common organism was MRSA 35 cases (23.33%).