Early postnatal neonatal surgery is associated with a low risk of surgical site infections

Despite the recognition of the negative effects of surgical site infection (SSI), data on neonatal surgery are limited. This study investigated the risk factors for SSI development in the neonatal period.

Neonatal surgeries performed by pediatric surgeons at the Mie University Hospital between 2007 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed. The correlation between age at surgery and the presence of SSI was analyzed, and the optimal cutoff value for age at surgery was determined with respect to SSI. The predictors of SSI were analyzed using a logistic regression analysis.

Among 272 neonatal surgeries, SSI was identified in 19 patients (7.0%). Patients with SSI were significantly older than those without SSI (P = 0.003), and the optimal cut-off value was age > 3 days. The incidence rate of SSI was 2.05% in the ≤ 3-day-old group and 12.7% in the > 3 day-old group (P < 0.001). A multivariate analysis revealed that intestinal perforation, preoperative elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) level, and surgery at > 3 days old were independent predictors of SSI.

Intestinal perforation, preoperative elevated CRP, and surgery after 3 days old are associated with an increased SSI risk in neonatal surgery.