Risk factors for surgical site infection in colon surgery in our population

Surgical site infection (SSI) is the most common nosocomial infection in surgical patients with an incidence that varies between 5-30%.

Identify the risk factors for SSI in colonic surgery in our population. The secondary aims are to determine the incidence and type of SSI, as well as the incidence of an anastomotic leakage (AL).

Case-control study of patients undergoing colectomy between 2010-2014 at the Hospital Privado Univeristario de Córdoba and Hospital Raúl Ferreyra. Conventional and laparoscopic interventions, with a 30-day postoperative follow up, between 20-85 years and an ASA I-III were included. Patients undergoing emergency surgery and recto-anal resections were excluded. SSI was defined as an infection that occurred within 30 days after surgery.

We included 238 patients. SSI was diagnosed in 27.7% (n=66) of the patients of which 12.2% were superficial, 4.6% deep incisional and 10.9% organ/space. Multivariate analysis showed that SSI was independently associated with male sex (odds ratio [OR] 3.15; IC95%:1.43-6.92; p=0.004), having undergone previous chemotherapy (OR 6.72; IC95%:1.48-30.93; p=0.01), need for conversion (OR 3.32; IC95%:1.13-9.77; p=0.02), reintervention within the 30 postoperative days (OR 12.34; IC95%:2.65-57.37, p=0.001) and AL (OR 12.83; IC95%:2.97- 55.5; p=0.001). AL had an incidence of 9.6%, of which 91% presented SSI and all were organ/space.

We found that male sex, having undergone previous chemotherapy, conversion, reintervention within 30 postoperative days and AL are risk factors for SSI in our population. These results should be considered in implementing preventive measures for SSI.