Surgical site infections in ambulatory surgery: a 5-year experience

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the ambulatory surgical site infection rate and risk factors associated with surgical site infection. METHODS: We conducted a case-control analysis of all ambulatory surgeries between January 1, 1993, and December 31, 1997. The frequency of surgical site infection per 100 surgeries was calculated. The odds ratio (OR) was estimated by using logistic regression analysis. SETTING: A 140-bed tertiary-care teaching hospital for adult patients with cancer. RESULTS: The study followed 1350 outpatient surgeries. Thirty-eight patients had a surgical site infection (rate per 100 surgeries: 2.8). The risk factors statistically associated with surgical site infection were postoperative antibiotics (OR = 7.5; 95% CI, 2.5-23.0), and surgical time >35 minutes (OR = 2.4; 95% CI, 1.1-5.5). CONCLUSIONS: The surgical site infection rate for same-day surgery at our hospital is within the limits reported in the literature and below the rates reported previously for inpatient surgeries at our hospital. Full review of medical records and microbiology reports at day 30 allowed us to identify infections that otherwise would have been missed. Postoperative antibiotics may increase the risk of infection.     

Surgical site infection rates following cardiac surgery: the impact of a 6-year infection control program

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the impact of an infection control program on surgical site infections (SSIs) complicating cardiac operations. METHODS: Prospective cohort study of patients undergoing cardiac operations. Interventions included prospective surveillance, povidone-iodine scrub showers, depilation before surgery, administration of preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis in the operating room, and postdischarge follow-up. Logistic regression models were fitted to assess infection rates over time, adjusting for factors known to affect SSI rates. RESULTS: The overall SSI rate for 2051 procedures was 10.4%. Rates of superficial and deep incisional SSIs remained unchanged over the study period. The rates of all organ/space infections, mediastinitis, and SSIs because of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus during the first 2 years were 3.25%, 2.22%, and 1.48%, respectively, and they decreased to 1.17%, 0.73%, and 0.73%, respectively, by the end of 2002 (P = .01, P = .01, and P = .09, respectively). The adjusted odds ratios for these 3 types of infection at the end of 2002 compared with December 31, 1998, were 0.19 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.07-0.48), 0.20 (95% CI: 0.06-0.66), and 0.28 (95% CI: 0.08-0.97), respectively. CONCLUSION: We observed significant reductions in organ/space infection rates, particularly mediastinitis. These differences remained significant when adjusted for potential confounding variables.     

Surgical site infections

Surgical site infections (SSIs) lead to adverse patient outcomes, including prolonged hospitalization and death. Wound contamination occurs with each incision, but proven strategies exist to decrease the risk of SSIs. In particular, improved adherence to evidence-based preventative measures related to appropriate antimicrobial prophylaxis can decrease the rate of SSI. Aggressive surgical debridement and effective antimicrobial therapy are needed to optimize the treatment of SSIs.     

Surgical site infections: the cutting edge

Surgical site infections are common and many are preventable. It is critical to understand the factors that influence these infections in order to create appropriate strategies to reduce this risk. Recent developments in this area and recommendations are presented.     

Surgical site infections following gastrointestinal surgery in Palestine: a multicentre,prospective cohort study

Background

Surgical site infection (SSI) is defined as operation-related infections that occur at or near surgical incisions within 30 days after surgery. SSI is the most common postoperative complication and leads to increased morbidity and mortality among surgical patients. In Palestine, prospective multicentre studies on the epidemiology of SSI are lacking. We aimed to describe SSI epidemiology following gastrointestinal surgery in Palestine.

Epidemiologic trends in HBV infections at a reference centre in Turkey: an 11-year retrospective analysis

Objective. To identify changes in hepatitis B epidemiology after the implementation of the nationwide vaccination program in Turkey, hepatitis B virus (HBV) and related tests performed over a period of 11 years (2000-2010) at a reference centre were retrospectively overviewed and statistically analysed for trends. Results. Assay results for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and e antigen (HBeAg), Anti-HBs, Anti-HBe, Anti-HBc immunoglobulins and HBV DNA as well as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gama-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) levels, obtained via standardized commercial assays were included in the analysis. Overall, a stable anti-HBs incidence (43.6%) and male predominance in infected individuals were noted. Total Anti-HBc was detected in 43.3% of the Anti-HBs reactive population, demonstrating that the immunity against HBV has still been acquired through virus exposure. An intermediate HBsAg seroprevalence of 6.0% was observed with a significant decrease from 12.3% to 5.0% from 2000 to 2010. Anti-HBe positive infections were more frequent than those with HBe antigenemia (77.1% vs. 18.5%) with a notable increase from 2000 to 2003. HBV DNA was detected in 23.6-25.6% with serological markers of viral replication and was more prevalent in HBeAg positive individuals in parallel with AST, ALT and GGT levels. Evidence for horizontal transfer as the major transmission route was revealed with a reduction of childhood HBV infections, attributable to the ongoing vaccination efforts.     

Reducing surgical site infections in hepatopancreatobiliary surgery

ObjectivesPatients undergoing complex hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) operations are at high risk for surgical site infection (SSI). Factors such as biliary obstruction, operative time and pancreatic or biliary fistulae contribute to the high SSI rate. The purpose of this study was to analyse whether a multifactorial approach would reduce the incidence and cost of SSI after HPB surgery.MethodsFrom January 2007 to December 2009, 895 complex HPB operations were monitored for SSI through the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS‐NSQIP). In 2008, surgeon‐specific SSI rates were provided to HPB surgeons, and guidelines for the management of perioperative factors were established. Observed SSI rates were monitored before and after these interventions. Hospital cost data were analysed and cost savings were calculated.ResultsObserved SSI for hepatic, pancreatic and complex biliary operations decreased by 9.6% over a 2‐year period (P < 0.03). The excess cost per SSI was US$11 462 and was driven by increased length of stay and hospital readmission for infection. Surgeons rated surgeon‐specific feedback on SSI rate as the most important factor in improvement.ConclusionsHigh SSI rates following complex HPB operations can be improved by a multifactorial approach that features process improvements, individual surgeon feedback and reduced variation in patient management.     

Surgical site infections in Italian Hospitals: a prospective multicenter study

Background  

Surgical site infections (SSI) remain a major clinical problem in terms of morbidity, mortality, and hospital costs. Nearly 60% of SSI diagnosis occur in the postdischarge period. However, literature provides little information on risk factors associated to in-hospital and postdischarge SSI occurrence. A national prospective multicenter study was conducted with the aim of assessing the incidence of both in-hospital and postdisharge SSI, and the associated risk factors.     

Original Article--Surgical site infections following pediatric cardiac surgery in a tertiary care hospital: Rate and risk factors

BackgroundSurgical site infections [SSIs] are the second most common type of healthcare-associated infections and leading cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality in pediatric cardiac surgery. This study aims to determine the rate of, risk factors for, and most common pathogen associated with the development of SSIs after pediatric cardiac surgery.MethodsPatients aged ≤14 years who underwent cardiac surgery at our tertiary care hospital between January 2010 and December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed.ResultsThe SSI rate was 7.8% among the 1510 pediatric patients reviewed. Catheter-associated urinary tract infection [CAUTI] [odds ratio [OR] 5.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.3–13.8; P < 0.001], ventilator-associated pneumonia [VAP] [OR 3.2; 95% CI 1.4–7.2; P = 0.005], longer postoperative stay [≥25 days] [OR 4.1; 95% CI 2.1–8.1; P < 0.001], and a risk adjustment in congenital heart surgery [RACHS-1] score of ≥2 [OR 2.4; 95% CI 1.2–5.6; P = 0.034] were identified as risk factors for SSIs. Staphylococcus aureus was the most common pathogen [32.2%].ConclusionsSSI risk factors were longer postoperative stay, CAUTI, VAP, and RACHS-1 score of ≥2. Identification and confirmation of risk factors in this study is important in order to reduce the rate of SSIs following cardiac surgery.     

Surgical glove perforation in cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND: Recently, concern for the protection of health care employees and health care recipients has led to increasing awareness of transmitted infections. Sterile surgical gloves were tested to determine the incidence of perforations after being worn during procedures commonly performed by cardiac surgeons. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In a prospective study conducted from January 15, 2000 through February 15, 2000, 953 gloves worn during cardiac surgery were evaluated for punctures. Pairs of sterile latex surgical gloves were collected over a period of one month. Routine tasks included mainly bypass and valve surgery. Impermeability was tested by means of a water retention test according to European standard EN 455 Part 1 performed on 954 (Manufix, Hartmann, Germany) latex gloves. A control group of 50 unused gloves was also evaluated for the presence of spontaneous leakage. Gloves were separated according to whether the wearer was an operator (254 gloves), first assistant (220 gloves), second assistant (272 gloves), or theatre nurse (207 gloves). Gloves with a known perforation occurring during the procedure were not included in the study. RESULTS: There were no punctures in the 50 unused gloves. Punctures were detected in 66 of 254 (26.0 %) gloves used by operators, 49 of 220 (22.3 %) used by first assistants, 25 of 272 (9.2 %) used by second assistants, and 78 of 207 (37.7 %) used by theatre nurses. Some gloves had more than one puncture, accounting for the 244 holes detected (operators 75/244 = 30.7 %; first assistants 54/244 = 22.1 %; second assistants 28/244 = 11.5 %; theatre nurses 87/244 = 35.7 %). Sites of scalpel and suture needle injuries were most commonly the thumb (27.3 %) and pointer finger (42.1 %) of the non-dominant hand, followed by, in descending order: middle finger (10.2 %), other fingers (15.7 %), palm (3.8 %) and back of the hand (0.9 %). CONCLUSION: The number of punctures that occur during cardiac operations is obviously higher than has so far been assumed. Therefore, cardiac surgeons should consider the incidence of unknown glove perforations when planning surgery in patients with infectious diseases.     

Surgical experience in patients with cystic fibrosis: a 25-year perspective.

The spectrum of surgical diseases in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) has not been comprehensively studied. A retrospective review of 792 consecutive patients with CF presenting over a 25 year period (1970-1994) was made to determine the incidence of operations, procedures performed, complications encountered, and impact on physical development and pulmonary function tests (PFTs). A total of 191 operations were performed on 130 (16%) of the 792 patients; 98 operations (51%) were abdominal, 58 (30%) thoracic, and 31 (16%) hernias; 64 were male, and 66 female; average age was 14 +/- 10 years. Complications occurred in 12 (16%); 9 deaths were from progressive respiratory failure, 2 from superficial wound infections, and 1 from an episode of line sepsis. In the first 15 years, 9 complications occurred in 126 operations vs. 3 in 73 operations during the last 10 years. Operations were classified as emergent, urgent, or elective. Of the 9 deaths, 8 occurred after emergent or urgent operations (4 abdominal and 4 thoracic), while 1 death occurred following elective herniorrhaphy. For each subgroup, (abdominal, thoracic, and hernia), there was no difference in height/weight indicies, peak flow, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expired volume in 1 sec (FEV(1)), or FEV(1)/FVC ratio when comparing 1 year preoperation and 1 year postoperation. In conclusion, patients in this high-risk population were operated on with few complications, but when a complication occurred it tended to be pulmonary and fatal (4.7% of all operations). Furthermore, operations did not cause significant deteriorations in PFTs and they did not cause these children to fall off their expected age-adjusted growth curves.     

Surgical site infections following pediatric liver transplantation: risks and costs

Purpose. Infectious complications following orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) represent a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in both adults and children. In adults, surgical site infections complicating OLT have been shown to significantly increase resource utilization, but their impact in children has not been studied. In this study we identify risk factors for surgical site infections in children undergoing primary OLT for end‐stage liver disease and estimate their impact on patient survival, graft survival, length of stay, and charges. Methods. All pediatric liver transplants (n = 77) less than 16 years of age from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Liver Transplantation Database were included in the analysis. Surgical site infections (n = 25) were defined as wound infections, abdominal abscesses, and bacterial or fungal infections of the liver, intestine, or peritoneum during the initial transplant admission. Risk of infection was estimated using logistic regression, survival rates were estimated using the Kaplan‐Meier method, and length of stay and charges were compared using Student's t‐test. Multivariate analysis of charges was performed using linear regression. Results. Of the 77 patients, 25 (32.5%) developed a surgical site infection. Several factors were associated with increased risk of infections, including a leak at the biliary anastomosis (odds ratio [OR] 115, P = 0.003), preoperative white blood cell count (OR = 1.28, P = 0.009), surgery > 7 h (OR = 15.0, P = 0.011), HLA mismatches (OR = 6.0, P = 0.03), and female gender (OR = 8.0, P = 0.038). Surgical site infections did not significantly decrease either patient survival or graft survival, and increased hospital stay by an average of 21 days (P = 0.14). After controlling for other factors, patients who developed surgical site infections incurred on average $132,507 (P = 0.03) more in charges than patients who did not develop infections. Conclusions. Surgical site infections in pediatric patients following liver transplantation are significantly influenced by surgical technique and endogenous patient characteristics. Though survival outcomes are not different, the development of such infections has significant implications for resource utilization in the care of these patients.