A Prospective Study of Surgical Site Infection with its Risk Factors and Their Correlation with the NNIS Risk Index

Surgical site infection (SSI) is the third most commonly reported nosocomial infection, accounting for 10%-40% of all nosocomial infections and is a major cause of postoperative morbidity. Knowledge of factors related to SSI can help in reducing its incidence and related morbidity, which in many studies is shown to account for 38% of all infections in surgical patients. Lack of extending nosocomial infection surveillance programme and prevention measures in countries like India is viewed as a major challenge for the future.

The aims of this work were (1) to study the SSI rate in patients undergoing both elective and emergency abdominal surgery and SSI with CDC, and NNIS risk index; and (2) to assess SSI along with body mass index (BMI), glycaemic status, smoking and duration of pre-operative hospital stay of patients.

In total, 300 patients who underwent elective and emergency abdominal surgery were enrolled in the study as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. SSI with CDC's NNIS risk index were analysed considering BMI, glycaemic status, smoking and duration of pre-operative hospital stay of patients.

In total, 300 cases of abdominal surgeries (elective and emergency) were analysed, out of which 60 cases were diagnosed to have SSI as per the criteria.

This study demonstrated that there is a significant increase in SSI with increasing NNIS score that is, the greater the NNIS score, the greater the risk of SSI. With an increase in age, BMI, glycaemic index and preoperative hospital stay, the risk of SSI increases. Smoking and associated comorbidities also increase the risk of SSI.