Incidence and Risk Factors for Post-Appendectomy Emergency Surgical Site Infections

This study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors for surgical site infection (SSI) following appendectomy.

This retrospective cohort study examined the records of 180 patients who underwent appendectomy in Emam Khomeini Hospital from January 2021 to December 2022. The research tool included a demographic profile form and a research checklist. After obtaining the ethical approval from the university, the researcher visited the hospital and extracted the required data from the patient's clinical file (in accordance with the research checklist). Then, the collected data were entered into SPSS software (version 21) for data analysis.

Of the 180 patient records included in the study, 28 (15.6%) developed SSI. The descriptive analysis revealed that among the patients with SSI, 19 patients were men (67.9%), 18 (64.3%) had a low BMI, 8 (28.6%) had blood type A^-, and 19 (67.9%) patients had a fever below 38 °C. Regarding clinical symptoms, 1 (3.6%) patient had gangrenous appendicitis, and 22 (78.6%) required urgent surgery. Notably, no significant risk factors for SSI were identified. There was no association between SSI status and demographic variables, clinical symptoms, or underlying conditions (p>0.05).

The incidence of SSI following appendectomy was relatively higher than in previous studies, though no significant risk factors were identified. Given this, standardization and adherence to evidence-based infection control practices, such as an appropriate preoperative antiseptic preparation, timely administration of prophylactic antibiotics, and the use of laparoscopic techniques when feasible, might help reduce SSI risk.