PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SURGICAL SITE INFECTIONS IN ABDOMINAL SURGERIES IN ST PAUL HOSPITAL MILLENNIUM MEDICAL COLLEGE A TWO YEARS REVIEW

Abstract

Summary Background: One of the major complications after surgery is surgical site infection (SSI). The development of SSI is major cause of morbidity and mortality in surgical patients. It has an adverse impact on the hospital as well as on the patient. It is responsible for increasing length of stay of patient which results in social and economic loss to the patients and family. Host factors, local (site) factors and technique related factors are implicated in the causation of SSI. Objectives: This study assessed the prevalence and risk factors associated with surgical site infections in abdominal surgeries and factors affecting at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College(SPHMMC), Addis Ababa Ethiopia Methods: A retrospective hospital based analytical was conducted from January 2015 December 2016. All patients who have undergone emergency and elective abdominal surgeries at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College department of surgery during the study period were counted and reviewed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors affectingof surgical site infections. The secondary data was collected from patients’ medical records using a structured questionnaire for analysis. Results: Of the249 patients, 39 suffered from SSI (15.5%). In 19.8% of the cases, the wound was infected. The average age for the patients was 30 years. The operations were elective in 52.4% of the cases and 47.6% were emergency. The average duration of the operation was 2.07 hours. The advanced age, increased operation time, increased hospital stay, electivity of the operation, surgical wound type, background disease, and the use of drain all significantly associated with SSI Conclusion: In view of the a slightly higher rate of SSI reported here (15.5% compared with the 14% quoted in literature controlling the associated risk factors the SSI may be reduced to a more acceptable level.