[Registration of surgical wound infections]

Computer-aided registration of surgical wound infections was started in 1989. During two periods with an interval of one year 98.5% of all patients who had undergone surgery were followed up for four weeks after the operation. The overall infection rate was 12.3% in the first period, and 8.0% in the second. The corresponding figures for clean wounds were 10.7% in the first period and 5.0% in the second. 48% were superficial wound infections. Only 28% of the infections were detected before the patients were discharged from hospital. Registration is strongly recommended as a tool for surveillance and control of surgical wound infections.