Risk factors for wound infection after burn plastic surgery

This study aims to analyze the risk factors for wound infection in patients after burn plastic surgery and explore corresponding intervention measures to provide evidence for reducing infection rates in clinical practice. A retrospective study was conducted on 320 patients who underwent burn plastic surgery at SanTai County People's Hospital from January 2022 to December 2023. Patients were divided into an infection group (86 cases) and a noninfection group (234 cases) based on the occurrence of wound infection postoperatively. Data on age, gender, comorbidities (e.g., diabetes, hypertension), burn type, burn area and depth, surgical duration, antibiotic use, postoperative wound healing status, nutritional status, and lifestyle habits were collected and compared between the 2 groups. Univariate analysis was initially used to screen variables associated with infection, followed by a multivariate logistic regression model to identify independent risk factors for wound infection. The overall infection rate was 26.88%. Univariate analysis indicated that diabetes, surgery duration ≥ 200 minutes, third-degree burns, burn area ≥ 40%, use of 2 or more antibiotics, residual wound presence postoperatively, and malnutrition were significantly different between the 2 groups (P < .05). Multivariate analysis further confirmed that the aforementioned factors were independent risk factors for wound infection after burn plastic surgery, with OR values of 3.571, 2.759, 7.092, 6.775, 3.287, 6.125, and 3.229, respectively, all of which were statistically significant (P < .05). The occurrence of postoperative wound infection is closely associated with multiple factors, particularly diabetes, prolonged surgery duration, deep II-III degree burns, extensive tissue damage, use of multiple antibiotics, incomplete wound healing postoperatively, and malnutrition. Comprehensive perioperative assessment and intervention should be strengthened, and individualized preventive strategies targeting high-risk factors should be developed to reduce infection risk and promote wound healing.