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Risk factors for surgical wound infection among the elderly
L E Nicolle1, S A Huchcroft, P J Cruse
1Infection Control Unit, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
Journal of Clinical Epidemiology
|April 1, 1992
Summary
Elderly patients face unique surgical wound infection risks, including age over 70 and limited mobility, alongside known factors like operation type. Understanding these risks is crucial for preventing surgical site infections in older adults.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Surgical Site Infections
Background:
- Surgical wound infections are a significant concern in elderly patients.
- Identifying specific risk factors in this demographic is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify risk factors associated with surgical wound infection in elderly patients.
- To compare these factors with those known to affect younger populations.
Main Methods:
- Matched case-control study design involving 157 elderly patients with surgical wound infections.
- Analysis included medical history, functional status, behaviors, predisposing factors (CBC, urinalysis), and operative details.
- Conditional logistic regression was used for statistical analysis.
Main Results:
- Operative factors like type and duration of surgery were confirmed risk factors, consistent across age groups.
- Factors unique to the elderly, such as age over 70 years and limited mobility, were identified as significant risk factors.
- Predisposing factors like complete blood count (CBC) and urinalysis results also showed association with infection.
Conclusions:
- Surgical wound infection risk in the elderly is multifactorial, influenced by both general and age-specific factors.
- Limited mobility and advanced age (>70) represent critical vulnerabilities in elderly surgical patients.
- Targeted preventive measures addressing these unique elderly risk factors are essential for reducing surgical site infections.