No impact of sex on surgical site infections in abdominal surgery: a multi-center study

Objective Male sex is controversially discussed as a risk factor for surgical site infections (SSI). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of sex on SSI in abdominal surgery under elimination of relevant confounders. Methods Clinicopathological data of 6603 patients undergoing abdominal surgery from a multi-center prospective database of four Swiss hospitals including patients between 2015 and 2018 were assessed. Patients were stratified according to postoperative SSI and risk factors for SSI were identified using univariate and multivariate analysis. Results In 649 of 6603 patients, SSI was reported (9.8%). SSI was significantly associated with reoperation (22.7% vs. 3.4%, p