Surgical wound infection in a developing country-Papua New Guinea

The results are presented of a survey of surgical wound infection in the Port Moresby General Hospital. The rate of infection in operations where it was anticipated that there was not a high probability of infection was 10 per cent. This is discussed in terms of world figures. It is concluded that the infection rate is reasonable under the circumstances which apply in such countries. Reference is made to particular factors of importance in preventing wound infection.