Surgical site infections in general surgery operations in North West Greece: A prospective pilot study

Aim-Background Surgical site infections (SSIs) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality that add to the cost of hospitalization. The aim of the present pilot study is to assess the incidence rate of SSIs and associated risk factors in the Department of Surgery at the University Hospital of Ioannina. Methods A prospective active surveillance study was performed for patients undergoing general surgery from December 2010 to May 2011. Patients were inspected daily for the development of SSIs for a period of 30 days in accordance with the standard definitions for SSIs and protocols as outlined by the National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) system. Univariate analysis was applied to evaluate the association between potential risk factors and SSIs. Results Sixteen of the 207 patients developed SSIs (rate 7.7%). The majority were women (81.2%). The most common microorganisms were gram negative (61.5%). Univariate analysis showed that females, an ASA score >2, increased duration (>24 hrs) of chemoprophylaxis, and an NNIS score >1 were associated with an increased risk for SSIs. Conclusion This pilot study identified factors associated with increased SSI rates. The continuation of the study is expected to provide helpful information toward ways of preventing and reducing SSIs.