Clinical Profile and Management of 172 Cases of Surgical Site Infections at Gmc Baramulla (J&K)

Abstract

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the third most common infections among hospitalized patients in our country [1]. These account for 14% to 16% of nosocomical infections in all hospitalized patients [2] and a substantial cause of morbidity and mortality among such patients [3].

Objectives: To study the incidence and risk factors involved leading to SSIs among hospitalized patients in North Kashmir and to identify the service areas in our hospitals which need to be strengthened to decrease the incidence of SSIs.

Methodology: A five year prospective study of SSIs from December 2020 to November 2025 was undertaken in the Department of General Surgery, Govt. Medical College Baramulla, Kashmir. The involved host factors, wound factors and surgery related factors were studied. Culture sensitivity tests of surgical sites were done by standard methods and antibiotics were prescribed accordingly. Results: Elective clean surgeries showed less chances of SSIs compared to emergency and potentially infected ones. Prolonged surgical time (more than 2.0 hours) was significantly associated with occurrence of SSIs. Escherichia coli was the most common organism grown on culture in 33.72 % patients followed by Staphylococcus aureus in 26.74% patients and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 19.77% patients.The overall incidence of SSIs among the patients studied was found to be 8.00% Conclusion: The results obtained from our study revealed that in order to decrease the incidence of SSIs in our setup, we have to focus on intensive preoperative preparation of patients, decrease the surgical time, focus on optimization of poor risk patients and to undertake a regular surveillance of SSIs.