Epidemiological and microbiological surveillance of surgical site infections in orthopedic unit

Introduction. In the current paper, results of epidemiological and microbiological analyses of surgical site infections (SSI) are summarized, regarding patients, subject to surgical treatments in trauma and orthopedic units. Material and methods. In 2004, 1,095 surgical treatments were carried out - identified 31 SSIs. Infections were classified, according to definitions and criteria of the NNIS. Medication sensitivity of the bacteria regarded to be a SSI etiological factor was tested using the circular diffusion method, according to specifications of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. Results. A SSI incidence of 2.6% was found. Superficial infections constituted a majority of 65%. Post-discharge recording covered 29% of cases, including 2 patients who required repeated hospitalization. A median of duration of SSI patients' stay in the unit equaled 40 days. Among etiological factors of all the clinical forms of the SSI, a dominant part was consisted of gram-positive positive cocci (65.4%). Conclusions. Each of the identified SSIs was subject to microbiological diagnosing, in order to identify etiological factors and evaluate its medication susceptibility. As expected, prevalence of G(+) bacteria was found among isolated bacterial flora, although numerous occurrences of G(-) cocci were also identified. The obtained data confirm the necessity of continued close cooperation of the Hospital Infection Control Team with the microbiological laboratory. The analysis of data pertaining to leading SSI etiological factors as well as their medication susceptibility should enable elaboration of own standards for surgical infection prophylaxis and empirical therapy to be used in the ward being a subject of study.