A Study on Surgical Site Infections and Associated Risk Factors in General Surgeries at a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Surgical site infections (SSI) remain a major cause of hospital-acquired infections, causing morbidity and mortality worldwide. In developing countries, 5.6% of surgical procedures will develop SSIs. These are further complicated by an increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms. Associated risk factors also play a role in contribution of SSIs. However, the identification of factors that cause or predict these SSIs remains an important area of research. Objective: To investigate the risk factors for SSI together with the identification of the aetiological bacterial agents and their antimicrobial susceptibility. Methods and Patients: A cross-sectional study was carried out on 143 patients who underwent surgery in a single tertiary care centre. Only the surgeries falling under clean and clean-contaminated categories were included in the study. SSI was determined by positive bacterial culture, and resistant pattern was determined by Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. Results: Out of 25 different surgical procedures in 143 cases, four cases developed SSI due to Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Diabetes, obesity, and smoking were the associated risk factors in these cases. Conclusion: Prevention of SSI is complex and requires the integration of a range of preventive measures before, during, and after surgery.